Chelsea tight-lipped on report suggesting Didier Drogba close to Blues return

06 January 2016 21:53

A report that Didier Drogba has retired from playing to rejoin Chelsea as assistant to Guus Hiddink is premature, Press Association Sport understands.

Chelsea declined to comment on a report by French sports daily L'Equipe on Wednesday night which stated Drogba was set to quit playing with Major League Soccer's Montreal Impact to return to London.

Drogba reportedly has a year to run on his contract with the Canadians, who would be reluctant to let their talisman leave.

The 37-year-old enjoyed an illustrious playing career across two spells at Stamford Bridge.

He has been repeatedly linked with joining the Blues for a third time since Hiddink was appointed interim boss last month after Jose Mourinho left Chelsea for a second time.

The former Ivory Coast striker, who watched the first match since the departure of Mourinho alongside Hiddink and owner Roman Abramovich against Sunderland on December 19, has a rich history with Chelsea.

Drogba scored 164 goals in 381 appearances for the Blues, 157 of the strikes coming in 341 appearances in his first spell, which concluded with the 2012 Champions League victory in Munich.

He left Chelsea for two seasons after his silverware-laden eight-year spell and has won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups and three League Cups with the Blues.

Drogba had joined Chelsea in the summer of 2004 from Marseille and had short spells with Shanghai Shenhua and Galatasaray in between his stints at Stamford Bridge.

He returned in opposition with the Turkish side in March 2014.

Source: PA