Chelsea on alert as Anelka says: I should be playing for a great club

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

In an interview on his website which will be seen as a come-on to Chelsea manager Avram Grant and his rivals at both high-flying Manchester clubs, Anelka said he is desperate to play for a big team again.

• More Bolton news

• More Chelsea news

• More Manchester City news

Scroll down for more

Moving on: Nicolas Anelka is a Chelsea and Manchester City target

Grant is expected to bid for the striker in January to cover for the loss of Didier Drogba either to the African Nations Cup or for surgery on his troublesome knee.

Chelsea will face a fight from City, with Anelka having already played at Eastlands, and with Sir Alex Ferguson being among his biggest fans.

Salomon Kalou is also set to be away with the Ivory Coast for up to five weeks and the manager knows that he needs more firepower than Claudio Pizarro and Andriy Shevchenko provide.

Bolton will listen to offers for 28-year-old Anelka, but their hopes of getting a £15million fee would appear optimistic.

Asked if Sunday's 4-0 defeat by Liverpool had strengthened his resolve to move, the Frenchman said: "It is true that after this kind of match I think [that] more than ever, but it's life.

"One day my work will be rewarded and I can move again to a great club.

"It's very hard to live with this kind of defeat. To recover, I just went home and sat in front of the TV so I could think about nothing and empty my head."

Anelka's performance at Anfield did nothing for his reputation — he missed an open goal — but his ability has interested Chelsea and City. He said: "They are clubs who are at the top of the league. City's stadium is magnificent, the team is very strong and extremely motivated to qualify in the Champions League. Chelsea have similar qualities and more."

A decision on whether Drogba's knee injury needs surgery has not yet been taken but it could rule him out for the period of the African Nations Cup or longer.