Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is believed to be close to following his team-mate Nicolas Anelka to Shanghai Shenhua.

 

Anelka has agreed to move to the Blue Devil on a two-year contract from January and will be paid in the region of $10M per year for his troubles.

 

Drogba would be similarly well compensated if he too chose to head to the Chinese Super League, with a salary of between $10M and $12M on a three-year agreement mooted in China.

 

Shanghai are believed to be preparing to make Chelsea an offer to sign Drogba in January, six months before his current deal at Stamford Bridge ends.

 

The Blue Devil though will wait for the green light from the Ivorian himself before sending an official bid to London.

 

Drogba’s agent admitted recently that the 33-year-old was set to head to wherever he could earn the most money as he looks for one final big payday – a one-year extension offer from Chelsea has been turned down.

 

Teaming up with Anelka is an attractive proposition for Drogba and the French-speaking connection at Shanghai is set to be strengthened further when Jean Tigana inks his deal to become the club’s new coach.

 

Drogba has made eleven appearances for Chelsea so far this season, scoring two goals in the process.

 

Nevertheless, with Blues manager Andre Villas-Boas looking to the future with the likes of Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge and Romelu Lukaku, the Ivory Coast international’s playing time has looked under serious threat for some time.

 

Latest Features: