Anelka denies Chelsea quit talk

Posted Thursday, November 24, 2011 by ESPN

Nicolas Anelka has denied he is set to leave Chelsea in the January transfer window.

The Times had published an article quoting Anelka as saying his time at Chelsea was drawing to a close and that he was free to leave when the transfer window opened.

But the French striker told Agence France-Presse on Wednesday that he had not spoken to The Times.

The article in Wednesday's publication of the paper claimed Anelka, who is nearing the end of his current contract, was preparing to leave Stamford Bridge after slipping down the pecking order this season under Andre Villas-Boas.

The Portuguese coach has favoured Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge in leaving Anelka on the sidelines. He has not scored since August and last appeared for Chelsea against Genk in the Champions League on November 1.

The forward has started just three Premier League games this season and was left out of the squad that travelled to Germany to face Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

However, Anelka told AFP: "Following the quotations attributed to me in an English newspaper, I'd like to categorically deny having given any interview, let alone spoken about my future.

"I'm under contract with Chelsea until the end of the season, with many playing commitments."

The Times had quoted the striker as saying: "Chelsea has been the best part of my career and it's been great playing and winning with terrific guys like Didier Drogba, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda.

"I was hoping to win another league title this season with Chelsea, but now, apparently it is not to be."

It has been reported that Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua have made an enquiry about the French man's availability and are prepared to offer him a large salary to convince him to move to the Chinese Super League.

He has also been linked with a move to mega-rich Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, who made Samuel Eto'o the highest paid player in the world when they signed him from Inter Milan in August.

AC Milan could be another destination for Anelka, or a move to the United States could be on the cards with New York Red Bulls, LA Galaxy, Philadelphia Union and Montreal Impact all rumoured to be interested.