Chelsea want Zola to continue playing next season

Chelsea will open talks with the veteran striker Gianfranco Zola with a view to extending his playing career at Stamford Bridge for another year.

Zola, who is 36, said recently that it would be difficult for him to retire at the end of this season when his current contract comes to an end. While he may postpone a final decision until later in the season, Zola already has an option in his existing contract to stay at Chelsea for a further two years in an unspecified role. That may eventually include coaching duties, but because of his sparkling form Chelsea are still interested in him as a player.

Trevor Birch, Chelsea's group chief executive, was quoted in a London newspaper as saying he believed both the club and the player were keen to reach an agreement, "given the way he's been playing this season".

Birch, who said that the club had yesterday completed their latest £7m interest payment on loans, also confirmed there would be no pressure put on the coach, Claudio Ranieri, to sell players during the January transfer window. "The important thing is that we are not in a position where we have to sell our best players. Claudio Ranieri says he's happy with the squad and the fantastic team spirit at the moment," he said.

Gabriel Batistuta's agent, Settimio Aloisio, has confirmed that Argentina's, leading score at international level intends to leave Roma next summer and seek a move to the Premiership after 12 seasons in Italy.

"He wants to play in England, but he has a contract with Roma until June 2003. We have already informed Roma that he will be leaving in the summer," Aloisio said.

Aloisio has been told by Batistuta to find him a high-profile English club, and while he would prefer to play in London, the former Fiorentina frontman would consider a move out of the capital.

Chelsea and West Ham are among clubs reported to be interested in the 33-year-old who has had a bit-part role for Roma this season. "His family want to go to England. His children, his wife and Gabriel are all studying English," Aloisio added. "We are in contact with English clubs. He would prefer a London club but if there are other clubs interested in him we will have to study them. He does want to join a Premiership club."

Batistuta moved to Italy in 1991 when he left Boca Juniors to sign for Fiorentina. He stayed with the now-extinct Viola for nine years before joining Roma for £22m.

Fulham's Japanese midfielder, Junichi Inamoto, will be out for up to a month with ankle ligament damage. The 23-year-old was injured in a tackle by Birmingham's Olivier Tébily on Sunday, just two minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute in the 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road.

Inamoto was initially thought to have simply twisted his right ankle, but Fulham's manager, Jean Tigana, has now been told that the midfielder has ligament damage and will be sidelined until mid-January.

The news represents a significant blow to Inamoto, who has managed only six league starts this season. Inamoto endured a year of frustration at Arsenal last season, but his sparkling World Cup performances for Japan alerted Tigana, who signed him on a year's loan from Gamba Osaka.