Scolari Told Chelsea Will Not Buy This Transfer Window

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has made it clear to manager Luiz Felipe Scolari that there will be no cash to bring players to the club this January.

According to a report in the British tabloid the Daily Mirror, the Brazilian has agreed he must challenge for honours this season with the players currently on the payroll at Stamford Bridge.

Some might say that the Blues' failure to top their Champions League group, inability to beat League One opponents Southend in the FA Cup and incapability to head the Premier League reveals the side's shortcomings.

However, they lost only once in the Champions League and qualified for the knockout stages, they have the chance to beat the Shrimpers in an FA Cup replay, and are only three points behind Liverpool in the Premier League with a superior goal difference.

Still, it might have been expected that Chelsea would enter the transfer market this January, especially after the sale of left-back Wayne Bridge to Manchester City for £12 million.

Kleber of Brazilian club Santos had been tipped to replace the England international, while the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa of Marseille, Vagner Love of CSKA Moscow, and Sevilla's Luis Fabiano had all been linked with switches to London.

However, it appears that the signing of Deco from Barcelona in the summer may remain Chelsea's one major piece of business for the 2008/09 campaign.

Ricky Brooks, Goal.com