Chelsea are keen to resolve their transfer ban as quickly as possible.

After being hit with a 16-month ban by FIFA for signing French youngster Gael Kakuta illegally from Lens, Blues management are hopeful they can downgrade their sentence and be back in the transfer game sooner than first thought.

It will be important for Chelsea to be able to be involved in the transfer market as many of their stars including Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel will all be on African Cup duties next summer.