Joe Cole has baulked at opening new contract talks with Chelsea.
The Mirror says Chelsea and England star Cole, 28, is out of contract at Stamford Bridge next summer when his current £80,000-a-week terms expire.
And new Blues chief executive Ron Gourlay has made keeping Cole one of his top priorities.
But Cole's representatives have no plans to open formal negotiations until the midfielder starts producing imperious displays again.
He is desperate to prove his worth to new manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Cole then hopes to join John Terry, Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole by penning a four-year deal worth over six-figures a week.