Chelsea have sought to have their FIFA transfer ban frozen.

The Guardian says Chelsea have asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to freeze a transfer ban imposed by Fifa until it reaches a verdict on the club's appeal. If CAS, sport's highest court, grants Chelsea's interim request in the coming weeks, the club could be allowed to sign players during the January transfer window.

CAS said yesterday it had received appeals filed by Chelsea and the club's teenage player Gaël Kakuta against Fifa and Kakuta's former club Lens. No hearing date has been set.