Mourinho will not pay crazy prices to fill defensive hole

LONDON, Jan 3 (Reuters) Premier League champions Chelsea are facing a defensive crisis and could face Wycombe in the League Cup semi-finals next week without a single recognised centre back.

John Terry will not be fully recovered from back surgery until later in January, probably the next league game against Wigan Athletic on January 13, while Khalid Boulahrouz will be out for at least a month after suffering knee ligament damage in yesterday's goalless draw at Aston Villa.

Having sold William Gallas and Robert Huth pre-season, that leaves Chelsea with just Ricardo Carvalho for Saturday's FA Cup third round game against Macclesfield and he is then suspended for the first leg of the Wycombe semi on Jan. 10.

''For Wycombe we have nothing,'' Mourinho said after Tuesday's draw, their third of the holiday programme, that left the champions six points behind Manchester United, ''so it is obvious we need someone''.

The player shortage, and some poor quality defending in recent weeks, has led to media speculation that Chelsea will spend in the transfer window.

Mourinho, however, says that the club's extensive funding from Russian owner Roman Abramovich has led to opponents asking inflated prices for players.

''Just because of the smell that Chelsea need a central defender puts people thinking we are stupid,'' he said.

''I want to go into the market but I have told my top people that it is time for other clubs to look at us as a normal club.

''People want my players on loan or at sale prices. When I go for a player it is like being told an Aston Martin worth 250,000 pounds will cost me one million. Then I tell them 'goodbye'.

''I am not speaking about Micah Richards (the Manchester City defender linked with a move to the champions) I am speaking generally. We are waiting and watching to see the reactions of other people and we are not crazy.

''My assistant Baltemar Brito is 55 and was a good central defender and I would rather play him than pay the crazy money.'' The good news for Mourinho is that goalkeeper Petr Cech, who underwent surgery on a fractured skull in October, could be back in action by February.

REUTERS PM VV1725