Pires urges Cole not to leave

Robert Pires today urged Ashley Cole to reject any offer to move to Chelsea as the Premier League opened a formal inquiry into allegations that he was tapped up by the leaders.

If found guilty of an illegal approach, a breach of Premier League rule K3, Chelsea could be fined and docked points - a massive blow to their title ambitions.

Yesterday they were held to a 0-0 draw with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, ending their eight- match winning streak in the league. They are still nine points clear of Manchester United.

The Premier League probe follows new evidence in a Sunday newspaper that appears to confirm that Cole did meet Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, chief executive Peter Kenyon and the agent Pini Zahavi at the Royal Park hotel, near Lancaster Gate, 11 days ago. Although League chiefs were reluctant to act, Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood asked Premiership chairman Dave Richards to act following the new allegations.

Cole, who is in negotiations with Arsenal about a new contract to replace the £27,000-a-week deal which expires in 2007, has emerged as one of Chelsea's major targets.

But Pires, who was himself a target for Chelsea when Claudio Ranieri was manager, today told Cole that he should stay at Arsenal where he will be able to challenge for major honours for years to come.