New Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay has revealed that talks have started with Joe Cole over a new contract.

Cole's current deal expires at the end of the season and he recently made a successful return to the Blues team after nine months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

"Joe's looking to negotiate his new contract for the next four to five years," Gourlay said.

"That process has started and Joe has made it very, very clear he wants to stay with the football club.

"I am sure over the coming months we will be able to work something out."

The current leaders of the Barclays Premier League are appealing FIFA's ban on signing players until 2011, imposed in September after they were found guilty of illegally inducing French player Gael Kakuta to join them.

Gourlay feels Chelsea have "a strong case" and, asked about his role in potential transfer targets, he added: "We have a football club board.

"If there is an opportunity to buy a player who's key to taking us forward and fits in with the team we will decide between the group who's best on a case-by-case situation to deal with that.

"The next five years are going to be very, very challenging. We entered into a 10-year plan, we've set our goals very high, I would like to see us keep playing the exciting football we are doing - I know that's close to the owner's heart - and we've got to win things.

"At boardroom level we've got to continue winning trophies. There is an expectation at Chelsea every time we cross the white line. We are expected to be in the mix in every competition we enter.

"That's how we have positioned ourselves as a football club and that's how we are portrayed. There's a lot of energy around the place and we are in a good position to support the coach and deliver the things we need to deliver."