Mutu in demand

Adrian Mutu wants to stay in England and rebuild his career in the Premiership next season.

According to the player's agent, two English sides have already expressed an interest in signing the player when his sevenmonth Football Association ban for taking cocaine ends in May.

As the fall out from Chelsea's stinging attack on the FA over the length of the player's ban was still being felt today, it was also revealed that Mutu has been invited to train with the Romania national team ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Armenia on 17 November.

Despite that invitation, Mutu plans to stay in England for much of the duration of his worldwide ban, which expires on 18 May.

Ion Becali, claimed last night that four clubs had already been in touch.

Former Chelsea and Romania-defender Dan Petrescu, now coach of Romanian first division club Sportul Studentesc Bucharest, added: "Mutu's future is in England, he must not quit English football. I know four clubs among the top six English clubs who are already interested in Mutu."

In the meantime Mircea Sandu, president of Romania's football federation, said: "We have invited Mutu to join the national team for the qualifier against Armenia in Yerevan to be together with his team-mates. He will decide if he agrees with this proposal."

Romania coach Anghel Iordanescu added: "I asked Mutu to come with us [for training] to feel that he is still part of national team of Romania."