Chelsea and West Ham United have agreed a fee of £6.6 million for the signature

Chelsea and West Ham United have agreed a fee of £6.6 million for the signature of England midfielder Joe Cole...

The deal is now dependant on the 21-year-old agreeing personal terms and passing a medical, but should he sign then Chelsea's spending so far this summer will have risen to £58m after the Stamford Bridge club had a £15m bid accepted for Manchester United's Juan Sebastian Veron.

Chelsea will be hoping that both deals will go through in time for Thursday's Champions League deadline.

Cole has long been one of England's most promising young midfielders and has so far picked up nine England caps though only once has he started for the Three Lions.

He scored his first England goal in June's 2-1 win over Serbia and Montenegro at the Walkers Stadium in Leicester.

Cole is the latest star signing at the west London club this summer, following Damien Duff, Geremi, Wayne Bridge and former West Ham right-back Glen Johnson who have all checked in at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri was delighted with the proposed move: "Without Gianfranco [Zola], I need a player who can dribble - and I think Joe Cole is that kind of player," the Italian said.

"He can play in any midfield position from the left to the right, or behind the front two.

"He's not signed yet but I hope he arrives. He's fantastic one-on-one. He's very clever and passes the ball very well.

"I like him when a match is close. He can dribble, pass and score a goal. He's strong and an Englishman.

"When I arrived, I said I'd like a blend of young English players and experienced players. Slowly, slowly, that is possible." 

Joe Cole 

Nationality: English
Place of Birth: Islington, London 
Date of Birth: 8 November 1981 
Weight: 9 08
Height: 5' 7''
Club: Chelsea (transfer pending) 
Position: Midfielder