Chelsea have confirmed they are not interested in signing Nicolas Anelka even though the troubled French striker has twice been offered to them.
Anelka is yet again understood to have fallen out with a club, with another move now possible from Paris St Germain after previous high-profile departures from Arsenal and Real Madrid.
Coach Luis Fernandez has confirmed: "If somebody wants to leave PSG, let us talk. I won't keep a player if he doesn't want to stay with me but Nico won't be part of any swap deal."
Sunderland have been linked with the striker, but his agents are understood to be seeking a return to London, where he first made his name under Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal are not believed to be interested again, while Chelsea have also now ruled themselves out of the running for a striker who could prove to be an unsettling influence.
Managing director Colin Hutchinson said: "We have no interest in signing Nicolas Anelka as we already have four quality strikers at the club in Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Gianfranco Zola, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Mikael Forssell."
PA