Ranieri won’t be tempted by January sales fever

CLAUDIO RANIERI has revealed he will stay out of the winter transfer scramble next month because he does not want to risk denting the buoyant team spirit in the Chelsea dressing room.

The Blues boss, whose only summer signing was midfielder Enrique de Lucas on a free transfer from Espanyol, will not be asking chairman Ken Bates for any cash to strengthen their new year title push.

Ranieri, whose side face Southampton in the St Stephen's Day clash at Stamford Bridge, is keen to protect the growing camaraderie fostered during Chelsea's superb first half of the season.