Contract boost for Van Aanholt

Roman Abramovich, Chelsea's owner, is ready to reaffirm his faith in the club's academy system by awarding a five-year contract to reserve left-back Patrick van Aanholt.

Roman Abramovich, Chelsea's owner, is ready to reaffirm his faith in the club's academy system by awarding a five-year, £15,000 (Dh87,750) a week contract to reserve left-back Patrick van Aanholt.

While the Dutch defender has yet to start a Premier League game and was last week loaned to Championship side Leicester City for the rest of the season, the 20-year-old is set to join Gael Kakuta in receiving an improved salary.

Chelsea have also discussed increasing the weekly wage of teenage left-back Ben Gordon to £9,000.

Elsewhere, Carlos Cuellar, the Aston Villa defender, has been offered a return to Spanish football by Espanyol.

The Barcelona club are seeking a replacement for Victor Ruiz, the Spain Under 21 international, who was sold to Italian club Napoli last week, and believe Cuellar can be lured away from Villa Park by the promise of regular first-team football.

The 29-year-old, a £7.8 million signing from Scottish giants Rangers in 2008, has been used sparingly by Gerard Houllier since the Frenchman's appointment as Villa manager.

Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion have both made approaches to Nottingham Forest for the club's French midfielder Guy Moussi.

The 25-year-old, who has also attracted the attention of Newcastle United, is out of contract at the end of season,

Sunderland yesterday secured the signing of the highly regarded Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari on loan for the rest of the season.

The 26-year-old Ghana international, who left Portsmouth for Inter in a €16m (Dh80m) move in July 2008, will join compatriots John Mensah and Asamoah Gyan at the Stadium of Light.

* With agencies