Chelsea have made an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport about their two-window transfer ban, according to reports in England.

However, the likelihood of freezing the ban while their appeal is heard has greatly diminished. The Blues are said to be fearful that FIFA may extend their ban to three windows instead of two.

Consequently, Chelsea are now likely to start serving their ban this summer even though they have appealed against the sanction.

It means the London club won’t be able to replace Eden Hazard who now looks certain to leave for Real Madrid.

The only two signings possible are Mateo Kovacic and Gonzalo Higuain. With both players already registered with the club, they can make the deals permanent without circumventing the ban.

Kovacic is the likelier of the two to sign with Higuain more than likely returning to Juventus after a disappointing six-month loan spell with the Blues.

Chelsea may have to rely on players returning from loan such as Kurt Zouma, Michy Batshuayi, Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount.