Jose Mourinho refused to rule Chelsea out a move for Steve Sidwell, with Newcastle and the Blues believed to be fighting it out for the Reading midfielder's services.

Royals boss Steve Coppell revealed Sidwell had left the club but refused to say what the player's plans were.

Coppell said: ''He's gone. I know exactly where he's gone but I am not allowed to say.''

Mourinho admitted that he possibly required two new midfielders to compensate for the expected loss of Michael Essien and Mikel John Obi in the African Cup of Nations next season.

Chelsea have been linked with a move for Sidwell, with Coppell revealing he left despite an offer to increase his wages to around £25,000-a-week.

Sidwell, 24, was poised to sign for Newcastle but the departure of Glenn Roeder has left the door open for other clubs and Chelsea are now in competition for his signature.

And Mourinho failed to dampen speculation that the highly-rated midfielder will be arriving at Stamford Bridge for free.

Mourinho declared: ''I don't think it is the time to talk about it. It is obvious that we need a couple of players, two or three players. That is the nature of a team like us which is trying to improve.

''I don't think we will be involved in the crazy market in big transfer and changes. But of course we need a central defender, a midfielder to make the group stronger, especially a group that will lose Mikel and Essien at the same time for the African Cup, and we need a striker.

''Three or four players is what we are looking for quietly. After the FA Cup final it will be time to think seriously about two or three coming in and two or three leaving."