Source: Daily_Mail
Blues ask for transfer ban suspension so boss Ancelotti can shop in January
Chelsea are expected to hear within a fortnight if they will be allowed to sign players in January while their appeal over FIFA's transfer ban is being considered.
The Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) have received Chelsea's appeal against the ban preventing them registering new players for two transfer windows, a punishment after being found guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens two years ago.
"Chelsea Football Club and Gael Kakuta have filed appeals at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decision issued by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber on August 27, 2009," read CAS' statement.
Kakuta
Man in the middle: Kakuta gets advice from Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti
"Both Chelsea FC and Kakuta have requested that the FIFA decision be stayed pending the outcome of the CAS arbitration. A decision concerning the request for a stay is likely to be issued by the CAS at the beginning of November."
Being allowed to sign players could be an important factor to Chelsea's season, particularly with the emergence of Manchester City as genuine contenders to break into the top four of the Barclays Premier League.
No team outside the traditional heavyweights have qualified for the Champions League since Everton in 2005, but Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard said: "I think it is more under threat this year with the emergence of Man City and the money they have got.
"Every year one of the Evertons, Villas or Tottenhams do very well and everyone says it is under threat but normally the four rise to the top.
Daniele De Rossi
Chase: Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi has been linked with the Blues
"I think Man City will be different, I think they will stay the course. If you spend £150million then you should stay the course."
Backed by the money of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Lampard sees parallels with the start of Roman Abramovich's era at Stamford Bridge when a multi-million-pound squad was assembled.
"We did the same obviously here six years ago and it wasn't easy in year one; year two and year three is where you really gauge progress and I am sure they are looking at the same things we were at that time," Lampard added.
"They have bought players who have been there before. Individually if you look at them - (Carlos) Tevez, (Kolo) Toure and (Emmanuel) Adebayor - they have been in very successful teams before anyway so I don't think that it is the issue. It is just the idea of throwing it all together which is not always easy but they can do it, for sure."
Chelsea's Gael Kakuta celebrates a goal
Controversial signing: Chelsea's Gael Kakuta celebrates a goal
Should CAS turn down Chelsea's request, skipper John Terry has been encouraged by the way his team-mates have coped in the Champions League while Didier Drogba has been banned for his rant after the final whistle of the semi-finals last season.
Carlo Ancelotti's men have three wins from as many games in Group D matches following Wednesday's victory over Atletico Madrid and, according to Terry, have proved the depth in their squad compared to Liverpool.
"When Stevie (Steven Gerrard) and (Fernando) Torres get injured they seem to be very short in the squad they've got," he said.
"We're very fortunate at Chelsea. Since Roman Abramovich came, we have had a lot of strength in depth in the squad - like with Salomon Kalou scoring twice against Atletico with Didier Drogba being out.
"People said we would struggle without Didier, but we didn't. If you take Torres out of their team, who do they bring in? It's difficult.
"We have players that are not here only to make up the numbers, but players that are fighting and working hard every day in training to come in and really prove themselves."
Kalou grabbed the first two goals in the 4-0 win over Atletico and the Ivory Coast would relish more starts - but he is aware of the importance fresh players bring.
"It is always good to have competition because it makes the team stronger," he said. "When you have a couple of players fighting for the same position, you have to be strong enough to play."
Drogba is likely to be recalled for the Premier League clash against Blackburn this weekend, with Kalou adding: "It's not easy to accept it but Drogba and (Nicolas) Anelka are in front of me and that is not an insult to me because they are two of the best strikers in the world."
