Manchester City and Tottenham are keeping tabs on Joe Cole's situation at Chelsea. The Daily Star says Cole has not finished a game he has started since September, stretching 13 matches, but although some of the substitutions have been due to injury, Cole has been upset recently that he is always the player to give way.

The 27-year-old now wants assurances from manager Luiz Felipe Scolari that he remains a first-choice pick and still has a future at Stamford Bridge.

Cole has 18 months left on his Chelsea contract, but both sides have been happy until now to leave renewal talks to the summer.

But Cole's growing unrest has alerted Manchester City and Tottenham, with both clubs keen on him.