Blues to lodge intention to appeal

Chelsea will lodge their intention to appeal against FIFA's transfer ban with the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday.

The English Premier League club have been banned from signing any new players for the next two transfer windows after FIFA found them guilty of inducing teenager Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens two years ago.

But the Blues are hopeful they can get the punishment reduced or overturned by appealing through the Lausanne-based court.

Chelsea are expected to request a 'fast-track' hearing when they lodge their full appeal with CAS.

CAS confirmed to Press Association Sport that the Barclays Premier League club has yet to appeal.

However, CAS insist that while Chelsea can ask for the hearing to be expedited, the other party in the case has to agree to fast-track it.

Once the club has notified CAS of its intention to appeal, which must be done by Saturday, they have a further 10 days to lodge the papers with them.

A one-window ban is unlikely to hurt Chelsea too much as they have carried out little business in January during previous seasons.