Guus Hiddink remains hopeful that Didier Drogba will become part of his coaching staff at Chelsea.

Drogba still has a year left on his contract at Montreal Impact, but is being lined up for a return to Stamford Bridge.

The 37-year-old, who left the club at the end of last season, was at Chelsea's match against Sunderland oN Saturday and significantly sat alongside both Hiddink and owner Roman Abramovich. He also spoke with his former team-mates in the dressing room afterwards.

Hiddink said “The official process I don't know, but I spoke openly from the bottom of the heart that such impact players can be huge for the club. How it goes on now, it's others who have to deal with that. Not me.

“I worked with him five or six years ago and I was delighted to have such a professional in the squad.

“He is a legend already in this club, but also outside this club in the world. So it's nice for guys with these big hearts to connect them somehow with the club.

“But he is playing for Montreal, under contract. All the big clubs, and the smaller ones, have these specific guys, figures, who can go into whatever they like – coach, ambassador, manager – but they must be given the opportunity to do so. They give the Chelsea brand a big image, worldwide.”

Chelsea have plenty of time to come to an agreement with Montreal Impact as the MLS season is over and doesn’t resume until March 6.