Chelsea are considering the option of accepting their transfer ban in the hope it might be reduced, reports say.
Fifa handed down the sanction on Chelsea, barring the club from signing any players in the next two windows. Chelsea’s bid to see that ban frozen during an appeal process was rejected by Fifa, and the London club are now mulling over their next move.
The ban was a result of Blues being found guilty of breaching rules relating to the transfers of foreign minors.
Chelsea were found guilty of 29 breaches of regulations over transferring minors, which included the signing of former Blue, Bertrand Traore.
The Daily Mirror claim Chelsea are yet to decide whether to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It could take months for a decision to be reached and Chelsea believe were they to accept the ban, it may be halved.
The outcome of Chelsea’s bid to have their ban overturned will have a major effect on the club, with Maurizio Sarri’s future hanging in the balance.
Sarri may be axed after the Europa League final against Arsenal later this month, but is more likely to stay at Stamford Bridge if Chelsea’s ban on signing players remains in place.
Chelsea have already made moves to prepare for a window without any new additions to their squad by handing contracts to centre-back David Luiz and striker Olivier Giroud.