Drogba to Shanghai?

[Hutchinson56]

I must say I have my doubts about this, but if there's any truth to the story then it could be a bit of a bombshell.

From Sky:

Chinese confident over Drogba
Shanghai Shenhua hopeful of sealing his deal

Shanghai Shenhua are hopeful they will complete the signing of Chelsea star Didier Drogba before next Monday.

According to local media, Shenhua are currently locked in talks with the Chelsea forward and are optimistic a deal is not too far away.

It would represent a huge double coup for Shenhua, who persuaded Drogba's former Chelsea team-mate Nicolas Anelka to make the move earlier this year.

"Everything is going well so far though there have been a few obstacles. They never turned us down, which is good for us," club board member Zhou Jun told The Shanghai Daily.

With Anelka having recently signed with the Chinese side, Zhou believes the odds of signing the 33 year-old has shortened dramatically.

"It's like making a blockbuster film. When superstars like Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Zhou Xun have confirmed their participation, other actors and actress will be confident of the movie."

Details of the negotiations have yet to be disclosed but Drogba is expected to join Anelka as one of the highest paid players in China if he decides to make the move.

LINK

[AVB]

They probably make a good offer as well. I think if this is true, is is most likely to leave.

Then im sure in the summer transfer window, AVB will start to bring in a striker like Cavani etc..

[Mehitabel]

NO!! I don't want Drogba to go to China! If he has to leave us, he should go to a French club where he wil feel at home. But I don;t really want him to leave us yet.

[JacksonvilleChelseaFan]

has anyone read this article in the rumor mill?

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/...-Didier-Drogba

talks about drogba consuming other forwards who play around him unintentionally... wonderin how much truth there is to this? anyone know

[Hutchinson56]

I've seen a few variations on this one. Coming from Ancelotti, who contrary to popular received wisdom, actually wanted Torres at the club (sourced from a Ray Wilkins interview some time ago) so far that reason alone, I'd be inclined to treat the article with caution.

Furthermore, I'm always suspicious of former managers telling us what we should do, what's best for us, when it's clear that their loyalties lie with their current employer, as they should do.

Also "consuming" could very well be a misinterpretation of "dominating". Drogba certainly is a dominant force, we've built the team around him for some time. However, at 33 you'd have to question how much longer he'll be at the club for. Or indeed, is Ancelotti thinking about taking Drogba to PSG?

[Mehitabel]

You do have to wonder whether Carlo has a hidden agenda. Otherwise why would he spout off to the press like this?

[JacksonvilleChelseaFan]

I've seen a few variations on this one. Coming from Ancelotti, who contrary to popular received wisdom, actually wanted Torres at the club (sourced from a Ray Wilkins interview some time ago) so far that reason alone, I'd be inclined to treat the article with caution.

Furthermore, I'm always suspicious of former managers telling us what we should do, what's best for us, when it's clear that their loyalties lie with their current employer, as they should do.

Also "consuming" could very well be a misinterpretation of "dominating". Drogba certainly is a dominant force, we've built the team around him for some time. However, at 33 you'd have to question how much longer he'll be at the club for. Or indeed, is Ancelotti thinking about taking Drogba to PSG?

he was saying teves was being looked at by PSG.

[Hutchinson56]

Carlo speak with forked tongue?

It wouldn't be the first time!

[Mehitabel]

But surely Drogba's on duty for the Africa Cup of Nations till after the transfer window closes. I don't see him going to China.

[Hutchinson56]

I wrote earlier that I have my doubts about this story, and this is still very much the case. It could very well be nothing more than a publicity stunt, or perhaps a touch of wishful thinking.

[Mehitabel]

ooh! Wishful thinking! I know all about that!

[JacksonvilleChelseaFan]

ooh! Wishful thinking! I know all about that!

wishful thinking leads to unexplained optimism... while good in the off-season, to keep fans moral up, this can end up leading to massive let downs if not handled cautiously during the grind of the regular season haha.

[Faiza]

And now he said "not before June."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/16661623.stm

[Dkw]

This will be a big contract for Didier, and not for footballing reasons. He has a lot of things he does that need to be taken into consideration and he needs to be able to cover them financially. The amount of things he does in his own country alone are incredible, he`s more than a footballer there, he`s the leader of the country in all but name.

[Mehitabel]

Good point, Dkw. It may well be that for much deeper reasons he needs to take the best financial offer he can get.

[JacksonvilleChelseaFan]

Good point, Dkw. It may well be that for much deeper reasons he needs to take the best financial offer he can get.

this applies to every person facing a contract, but like you said, he carries a giant burden( though he may not consider it a burden financially that is what it would considered)... he will obviously go where the money is being offered, but i don't even think chelsea is giving him an offer, so it may just be a "go where you can go" situation... i don't see how there is not another English team that views drogba a beneficial forward to their club...maybe its just the price tag with the age.... he should come to America and play haha he would be a monster over here

[AVB]

He scored for his country the other day. He will most likely stay until June (earliest).

[JacksonvilleChelseaFan]

He scored for his country the other day. He will most likely stay until June (earliest).

i just hope the rumors that carlos put out weren't true in that case... if so, keeping him around would set torres back that much farther.... hopefully those rumors are bull crap... i hope torres knocks a couple by swansea

[AVB]

In my opinion, I think Drogba is a better finisher than Torres, whether its luck I do not know.
Torres is an overall player that likes to take on players and providing assists, his style is totally different to Drogba's.

When Drogba leaves, im sure the team will focus on Torres and play his style.

[JacksonvilleChelseaFan]

In my opinion, I think Drogba is a better finisher than Torres, whether its luck I do not know.
Torres is an overall player that likes to take on players and providing assists, his style is totally different to Drogba's.

When Drogba leaves, im sure the team will focus on Torres and play his style.

hopefully he is still there... i like the notion that drogba, as of now, has a better eye for the back of the net, but he is not the long term answer for the team IMO... torres needs to step up and show fans he can be the answer when when drogba is gone, thus far , he hasn't done that