Real Madrid target Ashley Cole and Patrice Evra

Is Ashley Cole set to move from one set of losers to another? Yes, if the Daily Mirror is to be believed, who claim that England's finest left-back and love-rat is being "targeted" by Real Madrid.  A move to the Spanish giants would have been unthinkable for Cole a few weeks ago, but following the breakdown of his marriage to pint-sized Geordie pop star Cheryl Cole, those closest to the fallen footballer say he is keen to make a fresh start.

Real Madrid see Cole as someone capable of helping them fulfill their potential, following their dramatic exit from the Champions League last week at the hands of Lyon, and the 29-year-old Cole still has three or four years of good football left in him. But would he want to leave Chelsea? Probably, yes, after the club crashed out of the Champions League last night to cap what has been a turbulent season for the Blues what with Cole and John Terry being embroiled in sex scandals.

The Mirror quotes Spanish rag Marca – known for its football scoops – as saying that Cole has been earmarked for a move to the Bernebeu because  "he is one of the best players in the world and wants to come to Spain." Apparently, not only is Cole up for a move, but Chelsea are ready to listen to offers for the player they signed from Arsenal in 2006

However, according to Marca, Real have drawn up a contingency plan just in case Cole decides he prefers London's party scene to Madrid's. Manchester United's French full-back Patrice Evra is also on the Spanish club's shopping list as is Lazio's Aleksandar Kolarov.

There could be good news for Arsene Wenger after Arsenal target Felipe Melo had a run-in with Juventus fans during his club's own fans and was forced to issue an apology.

He wrote on the club's website: "I said something I shouldn't have said. I'm sorry about my behaviour."

The incident which came in the 3-3 draw with Siena has further eroded his relationship with the Old Lady of Turin and the £21m Brazilian could now be offloaded cheaply in the summer.

Meanwhile other sources in the Spanish press say that Real Madrid have all but signed French winger Franck Ribery from Bayern Munich. As reported in The First Post yesterday, the German club are desperate to hang on to their 26-year-old star, but according to FIFA agent Ernesto Bronzetti, they should start preparing for life without Ribery.

Bronzetti is the man who last season was the first to predict Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival at Real from Manchester United, so his comments have caused great excitement. "Ribery will spend next season at Real Madrid," Bronzetti told an Italian paper, adding that an announcement will be made in the next few weeks

Finally, Sevilla's Brazilian's striker Luis Fabiano has confessed he might soon be on his way out of the Spanish club, who last night were sent crashing out of the Champions League by CSKA Moscow. The 29-year-old has his eyes set on a move to England and doesn't care who knows it. "In Seville I'm very well," said Fabiano, "but I've reached the age when I think it's time to measure myself with a big club.

"A couple of times I have been close to landing in the English Premier League: Chelsea last year, two years ago it was Manchester City." ·