Chelsea accept Anelka and Alex requests

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas admitted that transfer requests from both Nicolas Anelka and Alex have been accepted.

The Brazilian defender has been linked with a move to Juventus in January, while Anelka wants to make a move to the Middle East.


"The conversation was fair and very, very frontal and direct with the players. The players have shown their interest in leaving the club, they have put in transfer requests for quite some time.


"They are top, top professionals - their professionalism and integrity is never in question - but at this moment and with the recent from and results, we have decided just to try to get the group together, and we have decided to assign different training times for Anelka and Alex," said Andre-Villas Boas.


"Again, it was a frontal and direct conversation, the players were fantastic in assuming it. The group was informed and they took on board the decision.


"The transfer request was accepted - it doesn't mean that it will happen, and if it doesn't happen, the players will return to full training."