Drogba to sign new contract

[b00gamaster]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle6722487.ece

Didier Drogba has given his word to Chelsea that he will sign a new contract in the next few weeks that is likely to result in him ending his career at the club.

The finer points of a three-year deal worth £120,000 a week have yet to be finalised, but agreement has been reached in principle and the Ivory Coast striker is expected to sign before the start of the season.

Drogba, 31, has threatened to leave Stamford Bridge on several occasions since arriving as the club’s then record £24 million signing five years ago, so news of his renewed commitment will come as a welcome boost, particularly with Chelsea struggling to make much impact in the transfer market.

The marquee signing that Carlo Ancelotti has been promised remains elusive, but the manager has spoken to the club’s hierarchy about attempting to hijack Real Madrid’s move for Xabi Alonso, who is unsettled at Liverpool.

Ancelotti outlined his attacking plans yesterday for the coming season and pledged to reverse recent trends at Chelsea by playing with two strikers when possible. The Italian described Drogba as irreplaceable, but had less encouragement for Andriy Shevchenko, who has been told effectively that he can leave the club. Despite their long association, Ancelotti started the Ukraine striker in only two Serie A matches at AC Milan last season and is planning to facilitate his exit from Stamford Bridge.

“I would like to play with two strikers because we put more zonal pressing,†Ancelotti said. “I want to follow this way. Drogba is a very important player for us and we want him to play for Chelsea. He’s irreplaceable as no other striker in the world can do the same job. I’ve spoken with Drogba and know what he wants. He told me he’s happy to stay.

“I speak to Shevchenko every day and the situation is this: he’s with us until August 31 and then we take a decision together. I don’t know what will happen as the club has not received any offers.â€

Ancelotti also revealed that he would like to trim his 27-man squad, so several other departures can be expected over the next month. The Italian will start by clearing out the dead wood that previous managers have collected up front — Chelsea have seven strikers — with Claudio Pizarro and Franco Di Santo the most vulnerable, along with Shevchenko.

Chelsea also have an abundance of central midfield players and, given the club’s desire for self-sufficiency, John Obi Mikel would have to be sold to make room for Alonso. The Nigeria midfield player has only one year left on his contract and has yet to be offered another.

“It would be better to have 23 players, but now I want to see them all, the people I don’t know very well,†Ancelotti said. “There will be less players, but 24 or 25 is not a problem.â€

Ancelotti is unlikely to buy another striker however, because in addition to Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou, he is expecting big things from Daniel Sturridge. The 19-year-old scored on his debut against the Seattle Sounders last weekend and has been told that he has an important role to play this season. “Sturridge will stay with the first team,†Ancelotti said. “He's young and has good quality and we expect him to have a very good season. To score in the first game, that’s good for us and good for him. He will improve and has to improve.

“I knew him before I came here, but didn’t see a lot of matches. He has a lot of quality because he’s a striker who is quick and intelligent in his movement for others.â€

Good news if true on Drogba.

Not so sure about the Alonso move, especially if it is at the Mikel's expense.

[mad_mac]

agreed

[rahul]

We dont need Alonso.

[Gem]

Only if Frank wants someone to kick the crap out of.

[Matt F]

Chelsea also have an abundance of central midfield players and, given the club’s desire for self-sufficiency, John Obi Mikel would have to be sold to make room for Alonso.

Slightly off-topic but I can't see why Chelsea is considered to be heavy in the midfield. I count 3 keepers, 10 defenders, 7 midfield, 9 forward. Granted most of the midfielders are actually used, but still it seems obvious the other positions need to be trimmed first.

Oh, and I agree Alonso isn't needed.

Edited July 22, 2009 by Matt F

[Eggy McMuffin]

Only if Frank wants someone to kick the crap out of.

Well some teams do use kick-boxing to get fit in pre-season, so it could well work! :blink:

[PloKoon13]

Considering all we went through to get him, selling Mikel to get Alonso would be nothing but stupid.

[Tim]

Agreed. Alonso is 27 and would cost a fortune. Mikel is much younger and, like you say, we paid a pretty penny to get him, so let's show some faith. As much as I do have some reservations about how he has developed so far, I think the one thing he needs right now is for CFC to stabalise a bit, with a manager who tells him how he wants him to play, and works with him on this for a good couple of seasons. The constant change over the last 2 years really cannot have helped him.

While Carlo must be allowed to build his own team, this move would seem pretty bizarre. Also seriously doubt that Alonso would pick us over Real, so would just be another opportunity for us to be SNUBBED!

[sals]

Man city now bidding for alonso according to goal.com, i dont rate him highly at all and would be very dissapointed to see him as our marquee signing. Great news about Didier though

[clubhappy]

Drogs :blink: Excellent .

[Elliott]

If his head stays like this, and he stays injury free, then we will continue to see the best from him this season, im sure.

[Guest Sindre]

If we sell Mikel to give place to Alonso i will walk to Stamford Bridge with a bat in my hand. Mikel is already better for christ sake!

[ducavis]

If we sell Mikel to give place to Alonso i will walk to Stamford Bridge with a bat in my hand. Mikel is already better for christ sake!

No offense but can we stop this rubbish about Mikel been in the same class as Alonso. An Alonso type player is what we are missing & in all honesty their is no one currently in our squad that has the ability to play that role. Now Mikel has signed a new contract, I think it is high time he upped his game (Like Anderson did for the Mancs). IMO a creative type player is what would make a difference between getting to a final & actually winning a final.

[TheWestwayWonder]

I dont know if he is what we are missing per se, and I dont want to dig up the other thread currently going on this, but Alonso on his day is one the best midfielders in England, period. I can say this though I hate the dippers with passion. But we are not going to sign him, and unelss they offer 50m I doubt city will either.

However, I think he will be going to Madrid. The Dippers are playing today in Thailand, and Alonso is not playing nor is he on the bench. Contract talks?

Good news on Drogba, hopefully after getting Ovrebo-ed last year, he comes out playing like a madman.

And its encouraging that Carlo is big on Sturridge. Maybe this means good things for Di Santo, Stoch, and Mancienne, too. It always galled me that they never got a hint of playing time in blowouts, whereas Ferguson was willing to use Johnny Evans in big games

[kalpitv]

When my Chelsea TV stream temporarily stopped working this morning, I switched to some other stream which was run by Ustream.

I happened to hear "Drogba, who recently signed a new 3-year deal with Chelsea has scored a scorcher"

It's not official yet, is it? I have a feeling it will be confirmed before the boys return from America along with an improved contract for JT.

Even though I don't get Chelsea TV here in India, I am hoping Blues News breaks into an exclusive at 18:30 GMT today to announce that our skipper is staying.

[That Boy Brandinho]

Alonso's a much better player than Mikel but I'm not sure he'd be worth bringing in at the price he'd cost. Put it this way, Rafa paid 18 MP for a sh*t right back in Glen Johnson. I don't even want to see what the fat bar steward would ask for Alonso, especially from another English team. I'd rather just keep Mikel.

Edited July 26, 2009 by That Boy Brandinho

[badenblue]

No way do we need or want Alonso, can't think Lamps will be to happy to see him sign either, Mikel is doing the job for now and the future, so why upset team spirit, seemsa no brainer to me.