Football- Anelka keen to stay at Chelsea - report

Last updated : 21 July 2011 By AFP

The former French international had widely been expected to be offloaded by Chelsea this summer as part of a clear-out to enable the rebuilding process under new manager Andre Villas-Boas.

However Anelka, 32, told the Daily Telegraph he wants to stay with the Londoners for the remaining 12 months of his contract and has no plans to leave.

"I never said I wanted to leave Chelsea," Anelka was quoted as saying. "Even if theres an offer from someone else, I dont care because I am seeing out my contract at Chelsea, one more year.

"I said in the beginning when I signed that I wanted to stay until I finished my contract. I still have one more year and Im happy."

Anelka joined Chelsea from Bolton in January 2008 and is a popular member of the dressing room at Stamford Bridge.

However he has struggled to find a place in the starting line-up since the arrival of Fernando Torres in January, and has rarely been picked in his favourite position as centre-forward.

But Anelka said he was ready to adapt to any formation Villas-Boas opted for.

"I played wide last season, I dont mind playing wide, on the left or the right, through the middle," he said.

"I've played through the middle since I started playing so, of course, I will be better through the middle. But I can adapt for the team."

Chelsea are currently on a pre-season tour of Asia.

Source: AFP

Source: AFP