Chelsea immediately announced their plans to appeal a transfer ban that means won’t be allowed to sign players until the summer of 2020.A club statement read: “Chelsea FC categorically refutes the findings of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and will therefore be appealing the decision.”The Blues are hoping that an appeal means they can delay the ban until after the summer, which is what Barcelona did when they received a transfer ban in 2014.An appeal pushed Barcelona’s punishment to 2015, allowing them to sign Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic.Chelsea’s form in recent months has emphasised the need for recruitment in the summer - Maurizio Sarri will hope to be allowed to bring in players to suit his system - so a ban could really cripple them.

Borussia Dortmund winger Christian Pulisic will arrive, and Chelsea have a host of players out on loan. But with Eden Hazard’s future uncertain, they will be desperate for the ban to be overturned or delayed.

Still, it appears that the club’s Twitter account isn’t ready to acknowledge that a ban has been handed out at all.

Chelsea are panned for signings tweet

The club post a regular Media Watch, in which they provide a round-up of transfer rumours related to Chelsea.

Many expected it to stop in the wake of the ban - but that’s not been the case.

They posted a link to their latest Media Watch on Twitter and asked their followers: “Who would you want to sign in the summer?”

The responses flooded in.

Chelsea are now being mocked by rival fans, while their own supporters are starting to feel rather embarrassed.

Hilarious stuff.

FIFA’s appeal process is usually a lengthy one, so it’s possible that the ban will begin next January.

Sarri is ready to leave the matter to the board.

"I don't know very well the situation, but I know the club are working. So I think they can solve this problem. Maybe for this summer, maybe not. But they are working," the Chelsea boss said this week, per football.london.