Chelsea want transfer ban freeze

Kakuta joined Chelsea from French side Lens when he was 16

Chelsea have asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to freeze a Fifa transfer ban until a verdict is reached on the Premier League club's appeal.

The Blues are banned from signing any players until 2011 after Fifa found them guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007.

Kakuta, now 18, is banned from playing in official games for four months.

If Cas grants Chelsea's request it would enable the Blues to sign players in the January transfer window.

Cas have yet to set a date to hear Chelsea's appeal.

Under the terms of the Fifa punishment, French teenager Kakuta must also pay compensation of 780,000 euros (£710,000), for which Chelsea are "jointly and severally liable".

Chelsea must also pay Lens "training compensation" of 130,000 euros (£118,000).