Ashley Cole is Chelsea's Walcott: Both could end up at Man Utd

Contract rebels Ashley Cole and Theo Walcott are walking a tightrope as far as their club careers are concerned.

But circumstances could see both heading to Manchester United.

Not by choice or design but because they feel unwanted in their respective clubs.

Sir Alex Ferguson would welcome them with open arms.

Cole, arguably the best left-back in the Premier League, has had a lukewarm relationship with new Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo.

With United having problems at the back with Phil Jones and Nemanja Vidic out and Chris Smalling just returning to the squad, Ferguson must be waiting to pounce on Cole.

Chelsea would feel Cole's absence Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, as one of Di Matteo's star performers of the season, Juan Mata, has said the match should be treated like a final by the Chelsea squad.

Cole suffered a hamstring injury during last weekend's Premier League draw with Swansea.

He played 90 minutes for the Blues who slumped to a 2-1 defeat two weeks ago in Donetsk.

Walcott on the other hand has been reluctantly used by Arsene Wenger since his refusal to sign a new contract at Arsenal.

Despite coming off the bench to score a hat-trick in the Cup clash against Reading, he did not start against United.

After starting for only the fourth time this season in the Champions League clash against Schalke in Germany on Tuesday in which he scored, Walcott has threatened to quit unless he gets to play more regularly.

Brendan Rodgers wants him at Anfield since they have only one fit striker in Luis Suarez and is likely to make a bid in January.

But Walcott is likely to follow his former captain Robin van Persie to United.

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