Chelsea to sign Anelka in time to play in FA Cup this weekend - but Terry faces long layoff
Chelsea expect to land Nicolas Anelka in time to play in the FA Cup third round this weekend.
But the Blues have been rocked by the news that skipper John Terry is likely to be out until the middle of next month - and that could hasten a move for Inter Milan's Brazilian defender Maicon Douglas.
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Quick move? Anelka could complete his Chelsea switch in 72 hours
While Bolton are attempting to hold on to Anelka for as long as possible, Avram Grant is pushing for the deal to be done within the next 72 hours to blood the £10million new recruit against QPR on Saturday.
Reports in the Daily Mirror suggest that Chelsea chief has got the go-ahead from owner Roman Abramovich to sign Anelka and another striker - Blackburn's Benni McCarthy could fit the bill for £8m after a fall-out with Rovers boss Mark Hughes.
Chelsea are desperate for reinforcements with Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou on African Nations Cup duty. And while the Chelsea board will refuse to sanction moves that would effectively do little more than patch up a squad suffering from an unprecedented injury crisis, up to £50m will be on the table.
The need to reinforce a defence that wobbled alarmingly against Newcastle has been intensified with the latest fitness bulletins to emerge about Terry and his three broken metatarsals.
He is now virtually certain to miss England's first game under Fabio Capello against Switzerland on February 6.
Terry has not even been able to carry out basic gym work as part of his rehabilitation.
The Chelsea captain is unable to put any weight on the foot or undergo any exercise regime and he is facing up to another month on the sidelines. Inter are prepared to sell Douglas, 26 - but are demanding a fee of £20m.
