London, July 30 : England midfielder Joe Cole is now ready to pledge the best years of his career to Chelsea.

The midfielder, 27, will sit down with chief executive Peter Kenyon and thrash out the terms of a long-term contract when the club returns from its pre-season trips next week.

New boss Phil Scolari has been impressed by Cole both on and off the pitch during the tour of China and Malaysia, The Sun reported.

He has two years left on his current contract but it is understood Chelsea are prepared to rip up the remaining terms of his 60,000 pounds-a-week deal and offer him five more years on around 80,000 pounds.

Chelsea have already tied keeper Petr Cech, midfielder Michael Essien and defender Wayne Bridge to lengthy deals.

But Scolari last night admitted that he does not know how long Frank Lampard will stay at Stamford Bridge.

Inter Milan have given up on signing the England international this summer but Scolari accepts he cannot be sure about what will happen in the future.

ANI