All of today's transfer rumours from Chelsea: Ashley Cole set for Real Madrid switch?

With Chelsea paying vast sums of money to bring Andre Villa-Boas to Stamford Bridge, the manager has now been given licence to shape his squad how he wants to. Today's transfer rumours give us an insight into the mind of Villas-Boas and the way he will look to rebrand Chelsea on the field of play.

The Mirror lead with the news that Chelsea and Real Madrid are to go head to head to sign Benfica's highly rated left back Fabio Coentrao. The new Chelsea coach wants to bring the Portuguese full back to Stamford Bridge but will face competition from mentor Jose Mourinho who has been tracking the player for the last few weeks. Real Madrid has already had a cash plus player offer rejected by Benfica. Chelsea are said to now be ready to offer the full £27m which will activate the buyout clause in Coentrao's contract.

With Chelsea in the market for a left back it brings into question the future of Ashley Cole. Reports circulating today suggest that Ashley Cole could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge to re-join Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid. The reports suggest that if Real Madrid loses out to Chelsea in the race to sign Fabio Coentrao they will turn their attention to Ashley Cole. Website, caughtoffside.com claim that Real Madrid is serious considering a bid for the English left back. Jose Mourinho, who brought Cole to Chelsea, wants the full back as a replacement but is aware that Cole will not be cheap. The left back has two years left on his reported £120k a week contract but Mourinho is anxious to improve his squad to compete with both Barcelona at home and in Europe.

The Daily Star has claimed that Chelsea is preparing a £35 raid for Alexis Sanchez. With any potential deal between the player and Barcelona stalling, Chelsea now sees the opportunity to land the winger. New boss Andre Villas-Boas has pinpointed Sanchez as the man to build his new free flowing approach around and the new Chelsea boss is keen to land the Chilean winger from under the noses of both Barcelona and Manchester City.

Andre Villas-Boas is also taking control of his back room staff. The new blues boss is shaping his staff around his specific needs and has already fired some of Carlo Ancelotti's old staff members. Villas-Boas has already fired fitness coach Paul Clement and club doctor Bryan English whilst he has interviewed candidates for his number two. Reports in the Guardian confirm that Villas-Boas has been hired as manager and will be shaping the club around his own back room