Wilkins admits embargo concerns

African Nations Cup could strain restricted squad, says assistant

Last updated: 24th October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Wilkins admits embargo concerns

Concerned: Wilkins

Related links

Teams

Also see

Chelsea assistant boss Ray Wilkins admits the Blues' season may suffer if they are prevented from bolstering their squad in January.

Last month, Fifa handed the Stamford Bridge outfit a transfer ban after finding them guilty of inducing teenager Gael Kakuta into breaching his contract with French club Lens.

Chelsea have since appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, asking for the ban to be delayed while the administrators consider their case.

Should the request for delay be approved, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti would be free to add to his squad in January, enabling him to land cover for players expected to head to the African Nations Cup in the New Year.

Key men Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel are each set to represent their respective nations at the Angola event, which takes place from 10th January to the end of the month.

Concerned

Wilkins accepts that Chelsea have every need to be concerned, especially considering the club's transfer embargo will prevent them from adding to the squad unless a delay is approved.

"If you look at the four we will lose and you take the equivalent four out of any team in the country, then you are naturally concerned," Wilkins said.

"We would not suggest for one minute we are not concerned, because they are top-quality footballers - and we are going to be missing those guys.

"It would be very pleasant to be able to bring people in - because we lose some influential players in Kalou, Drogba, Essien and Mikel - but we have a squad here that is more than capable of coping with that situation.

"We are going to lose some massive footballers - but that is life. We knew the African Nations Cup was coming around and we will have to deal with it."

Wilkins admits transfer dealings remain part of Chelsea's plans and they will continue to follow up targets as they wait for a verdict.

He added: "I am sure Carlo's got a few names out there he would like to bring in," added Wilkins.

"But until the situation is resolved, we will just have to crack on. If the ban is lifted then all well and good."