Rafael Benitez confirmed Chelsea were looking to bring in reinforcements in January.
Oriol Romeu’s season-ending injury has left the team short of holding midfielders, with their only other recognised player in that position, John Obi Mikel, on Africa Cup duty next month.
Chelsea have been linked with the likes of Corinthians’ Paulinho, Newcastle’s Cheick Tiote and Marouane Fellaini, of Everton.
Benitez said: “The club is working and always looking for good players, so we’ll see if there are any surprises.”
Pulis complains
Stoke manager Tony Pulis has complained to referees’ chief Mike Riley over what he regards as the different treatment his team re-ceives compared to their rivals.
Pulis suggests too many referees approach Stoke games with preconceived ideas about their style of play. He backs up his argument by pointing to the Potters’ position at the foot of the fair play table with 32 yellow and three red cards this season.
Pulis said: “I find the whole situation disappointing.
“Look at the incidents where our players are being booked or sent off, then compare them with similar incidents involving others that are going unpunished. All we have ever asked is to be treated the same as everyone else.”
PFA happy with ban proposal
The Professional Footballers’ Association will not stand in the way of a proposed minimum five-match ban for racist abuse. The sanction is one of a number of proposals being discussed by the game’s ruling bodies.
Chelsea skipper John Terry was given only a four-match ban for racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand while Liverpool’s Luis Suarez receiving an eight-match suspension for his abuse of Patrice Evra.
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said: “We are not opposed to it. We want there to be some consistency and to illustrate the seriousness of our approach to this issue.”
Del Piero talks
Alessandro del Piero wants to play another season in Australia but says his discussions with Sydney FC have stalled.
The former Juventus great joined the club in September, making the 2006 World Cup winner the biggest signing in the domestic A-League history.
The lucrative deal, reportedly worth €1.6 million a season, was for one year with another one-year option. He told journalists talks had taken place between his management and the club about staying on but the situation had turned into a waiting game.
“We have been talking. We are waiting (for) what it (the club) decides,” Del Piero said.
“We have discussed things. We have a good relationship, but at the moment we have to think day by day.”
Assou-Ekotto back in training
Cameroon international Benoit Assou-Ekotto has returned to training with Tottenham Hotspur after three months on the sidelines with a knee injury.
The dreadlocked left-back has been first choice at his position with the North London club over the past four seasons but has only made three apearances during the ongoing campaign after the problem flared up in September.
The 28-year-old raised hopes of a return to first team action when he trained with the team yesterday:
“Training with the team today!!! I hope I’ll remember the name of every one LOL,” he tweeted.
Santos make bid for Robinho
Brazilian side Santos have put in an offer to Milan to bring Robinho back to the club he began his career with, the bidding club’s president told reporters yesterday.
Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro admitted their bid fell short of 28-year-old Robinho’s personal terms and what Milan wanted, but added it was just the first shot in the battle to get him back to the club where he won two league titles in 2002 and 2004.
“We have put in a written offer,” Ribeiro said.
“There is a difference between what the footballer is asking for and what Milan wants, but we should be able to reach an arrangement.”
Llorente targets Premier League
Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente is eyeing a possible move to the Premier League when his contract expires next June after falling out of favour with the Spanish club.
Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Arsenal have all been linked with the 27-year-old Spain international and he admits a move to England interests him.
Llorente, who has started only one league game this season after turning down a new contract in the close season, said: “I really like the Premier League and I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion that it’s a competition which appeals to me a lot.”
The 27-year-old dismissed reports that he had already agreed a move to Juventus.