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Chelsea fans given good news over transfer ban by Gabriele Marcotti
CHELSEA expect their transfer ban will be frozen until next January - but they are confident they can cope if it is not, claims European football expert Gabriele Marcotti.
Chelsea could 'finish top four' with transfer ban says pundit
Chelsea have appealed the transfer ban imposed on them by Fifa which would prevent them signing players for the next two windows.
After their first two appeals were rejected, they have taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Chelsea have just lost their most influential attacking player in Eden Hazard to Real Madrid and manager Maurizio Sarri looks set to follow him out of the door.
That has led to many Chelsea fans being worried over the club’s short-term future.
Chelsea have just filed their appeal with CAS, most likely I think they expect it to be frozen
But Marcotti says the Blues expect to be able to make signings this summer, though they have backup plans if they cannot.
“I wouldn’t necessarily be so negative about it,” Marcotti told ESPN FC.
“First of all it depends on the transfer ban and we don’t know yet.
“Chelsea have just filed their appeal with CAS, most likely I think they expect it to be frozen so they will be allowed to operate.
“Now if Sarri does move, and people expect him to move, they’ll need to find a new manager.
“It will be easier to do so once you have clarity on the transfer ban.
“But don’t forget, this is a team that has a whole bunch of guys out on loan who can probably come back and help if worse comes to worse, if there is a transfer ban from [Fikayo] Tomori to [Tiemoue] Bakayoko.
“You knew Hazard was going to go and you’re not going to replace Eden Hazard but you look to people who you think can make similar contributions.
“Unless they were asleep under a rock, they would have known that Eden Hazard was going to go. We all knew this, this is not a surprise.
“We all knew that Willian and Pedro’s contracts were expiring and they likely aren’t going to be extended, they might extend one of them if they get the transfer ban.
“But this is the reality, you move on with different players. This is what happens, players get old and they get replaced.
“What I’m telling you is even if there is a transfer ban, they’ll be competitive to finish top four next season if they get the right manager.
“And if there is no transfer ban, then they’ll be looking to strengthen and maybe make a run to bring them closer to the top two.”