Chelsea boss in bust-up

Chelsea have consulted lawyers after allegations of a bust-up involving manager Jose Mourinho and chief executive Peter Kenyon over the sale of William Gallas to Arsenal.

Reports have suggested the pair fell out over the decision to off-load the unhappy France international defender as part of the deal to bring England left-back Ashley Cole to Stamford Bridge.

The transfer was concluded just minutes before the midnight deadline on transfer-deadline day, with Chelsea paying Arsenal £5m (?7.4) plus Gallas in exchange for Cole.

The Blues maintain Mourinho's relationship with Kenyon is strong and the pair were in constant contact throughout yesterday as efforts to bring Cole to Chelsea gathered pace.

Gallas, who irked the Chelsea coach by failing to join up with the squad on their pre-season tour of America, had been omitted from the first team this season.

Mourinho, with Kenyon's agreement, was prepared to let the defender play solely reserve team football for the final year of his contract if they could not engineer a sale which suited the Blues - however disruptive that might have been for the squad.

Chelsea were not prepared to sell Gallas outright to Arsenal, or any other club for that matter, as the club would have been perceive that outcome to be a victory for the 29-year-old.