Chelsea Will Not Renew Nicolas Anelka's Contract Until Next Year - Report

British newspaper The Guardian has reported that Chelsea will not enter contract negotiations with Nicolas Anelka until the end of the season at the earliest - despite claims from the player's agent that talks were imminent.

It appears that Anelka's representative, Doug Pingisi, had jumped the gun slightly regarding his client's future, as Chelsea seem perfectly happy to wait until the last year of the Frenchman's current deal before opening negotiations again.

Holding out until their players' final years seems to be the norm at Stamford Bridge, with the club having extended the contracts of Mikel John Obi, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard all on their remaining 12 months with the Blues.

Anelka looks set to pair strike partner Drogba on Tuesday night when Chelsea face Sunderland in their second Premier League tie of the season.