Chelsea [ Images ] assistant manager Steve Clarke has stepped into the Rio Ferdinand [ Images ] row by saying the English Premier League leaders do not need another central defender.

"We have four of the best centre-halves in the world in John Terry [ Images ], Ricardo Carvalho [ Images ], William Gallas [ Images ] and Robert Huth. We don't need a central defender, but maybe there is another agenda there," Clarke told Wednesday's London [ Images ] Evening Standard.

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Ferdinand has been linked with a transfer from Manchester United [ Images ] to Chelsea after being seen, with his agent, meeting Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon in London.

Kenyon has said the meeting was a coincidence and Chelsea say they have no interest in signing the England [ Images ] international, who became the world's most expensive defender when he joined United from Leeds for 30 million pounds ($57.53 million) in 2002.

However, as a result of the meeting, Ferdinand's contract negotiations with United have now become public news. Local media suggest the England defender is demanding 120,000 pounds a week to stay and United manager Alex Ferguson [ Images ] has urged Ferdinand to sign the deal being offered.

Chelsea, who will be champions if they win their next two games, face second-placed Arsenal [ Images ] later on Wednesday when another controversial transfer issue will be to the fore -- that of Arsenal's Ashley Cole [ Images ].

The England full back, along with Chelsea and their manager Jose Mourinho, face an FA inquiry over Chelsea's alleged 'tapping-up' of Cole, who is contracted at Arsenal until 2007.

Clarke, however, said the issue would not be a factor in Wednesday's match at Stamford Bridge [ Images ].

"Enough has been said about that," he said. "We should just let it run its course and I don't feel that it puts any significant edge on this game."