Manchester United have pulled back from their interest in Chelsea's Bosman prospect Joe Cole.

The Daily Mail says Cole, 28, is expected to be named in Fabio Capello's 23-man squad today and has told his representatives he does not want to make a final decision on his future until he returns from the tournament in South Africa. The midfielder's Chelsea contract expires at the end of this month.

The prospect of Cole returning to Stamford Bridge afterwards appears to be receding with Chelsea chasing Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun.

Manchester United are understood to have also cooled on Cole, leaving Tottenham and Arsenal at the front of a queue of many clubs.