Chelsea fear Salah exile

Didier Drogba will reportedly sign a one-year deal with Chelsea next week and return to the club as a player-coach.

Didier Drogba celebrates with Chelsea fans after their Champions League triumph in 2012 © PA Photos Enlarge

The striker, who first signed for Chelsea 10 years ago today, is a free agent after leaving Galatasaray and French newspaper L'Equipe claim Jose Mourinho has convinced him to head back to Stamford Bridge.

Drogba departed the club in summer 2012 having guided them to their first European Cup by scoring the winning penalty in the Champions League final shootout victory against Bayern Munich.

The Daily Mail reported earlier this week that Drogba had opened talks with Chelsea, where he also won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups.

Mourinho has already brought in striker Diego Costa in a £32 million deal from Atletico Madrid following the departures of Samuel Eto'o and Demba Ba, whose move to Besiktas was confirmed today.

However, with Fernando Torres posting a meagre return of 11 goals in 41 appearances last season and Romelu Lukaku's future at the club uncertain, Mourinho is looking for another forward as back-up to Costa.

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