Report: Manchester United want Chelsea's Ashley Cole

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is interested in signing defender Ashley Cole on a free transfer at the end of the season, according to the Daily Mail.

The left-back's current contract with Chelsea runs out next summer and negotiations over an extension appear to have stalled.

It has now been reported that the United manager is keen to take advantage of this situation and sign the 31-year-old England international for free at the end of the season.

The Red Devils signed 23-year-old Alexander Buttner from Vitesse in August to provide more competition to left-back Patrice Evra, but Ferguson reportedly wants to add more quality to his squad.