Chelsea will learn the result of their appeal against FIFA's transfer ban well before Christmas.

That could open the way for manager Carlo Ancelotti to buy in the January transfer window.

The Blues are banned by FIFA from signing players until January 2011 for inducing French starlet Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens in 2007.

But Chelsea will tomorrow confirm their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

A club spokesman said: "A senior member of CAS indicated the case could be fast-tracked with the intention of getting this resolved by December."

Privately, the Blues are resigned to serving some sort of ban - but are confident they can get it reduced, says The Sun.