Nicolas Anelka has given Chelsea the clearest indication that he is ready to pledge his future to the club.
And rookie goalkeeper hopes to keep Cech out of starting XI
Nicolas Anelka has given Chelsea the clearest indication that he is ready to pledge his future to the club, while Ross Turnbull is hoping he can stay in Carlo Ancelotti's first team plans.
The Premier League challengers are understood to have reopened talks with the French striker's representatives over a contract extension that would see the much-travelled marksman remain at Stamford Bridge until 2013.
Initial discussions with Anelka's team last week stalled, allegedly over his desire for a £40,000-a-week pay increase from his current £80,000-a-week deal.
But the 31-year-old is adamant he wants to remain in London with Ancelotti's side after chopping and changing clubs throughout his career.
Settled
"I feel at home here at Chelsea," said Anelka, whose current deal expires in 2012. "I'm happy in my life and I will be more happy at the end of the season if we win the Premier League.
"I said when I first signed that I wanted a big club and I've found a big club, so now I don't need to move anywhere else.
"I am very glad to be here. I've been at big clubs before with Arsenal, Real Madrid and Liverpool, but between the ages of 25 and 30 you want to be able to find a real home for yourself.
"It came at 28 for me, when I signed here, so I am glad - it has been a long career, playing for a lot of clubs, but I like the fact that I'm playing now in one of the biggest clubs in the world, I don't need to move anywhere."
Meanwhile, rookie goalkeeper Turnbull is hoping to remain in goal against Blackburn on Sunday even though first-choice Petr Cech will undergo a late fitness test on his calf problem.
The former Middlesbrough shot-stopper - who joined the Blues in the summer - played in Chelsea's 4-1 victory over West Ham last weekend and the 1-0 defeat to Inter in the UEFA Champions League, and he now wants to hold on to the shirt.
Big step
"I want to play but at the same time I don't wish ill health on Petr," said Turnbull.
"Football is funny, it's not an 11-man game anymore, it's a big-squad game and people are starting to understand that.
"You will get injuries and you need a big squad. If the games continue to come, great, but if not I will support Petr as much as I can. The most important thing is for the team to have success.
"My chance to make a contribution is now and it would be nice to look back at the end of the season having done my part.
"As I said every game now is a big one and we have to step up and do our stuff. I think I have improved massively, coming here has been a big step. There have been some hard times, I've been training extremely hard doing double sessions and it's been pleasing to show that's paid off."
