• Premier League

Mourinho to stick with Chelsea squad in January

Jose Mourinho says he will stick with his current Chelsea squad rather than make fresh signings in the upcoming January transfer window.

Barring a lengthy injury to any of his star names, the Chelsea manager has no plans to spend next month after a summer that saw him add five players to his squad including Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas.

• Chelsea to win the Premier League and Champions League, at 8/1 with bet365*
• For full odds visit www.bet365.com >>
• *All odds correct at time of publishing.

"We have a short squad, but we've got good players, some younger, some older, but the squad is very, very good," Mourinho told talkSPORT.

"We can't lose players for a long period of time, but our project is to start and finish the season with the same group of players, so there will be nobody to leave and nobody to come in either."

Mourinho went on to suggest Manchester United could get themselves involved in the Premier League title race this season, after moving into third place on the back of six straight victories.

Jose Mourinho says nobody will leave Chelsea in January © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Chelsea squad challenged to prove they are the best
  
• News: Cech: My head guard saved Zouma
  
• News: Fabregas: Chelsea can win quadruple
  
• News: Mourinho frustrated by Zouma stretcher delay
  

"I think Man Utd is like seven or eight points difference now and they are there," he added. "West Ham is doing beautiful and I am so happy that they are in this position [currently fourth], but I don't think Big Sam [Allardyce] will mind if I say they are not playing for the title.

"The top three and even Arsenal are smelling the chance to cut distances. We are not even half way through and everyone is alive, but the position of the top three right now is quite good.

"You look at the fixtures now and some are lucky to have easier fixtures in a period when matches are so close together. We are unlucky that three of our next four matches are away and only one at Stamford Bridge, the London derby against West Ham.

"We go to Stoke, we go to Southampton and we go to Tottenham so for us, this period will be really difficult."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd