The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has played down speculation that Arsenal are looking to sign the former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba from the Chinese club in Shanghai Shenhua. The future of the 34-year-old striker has been thrown into doubt due to the boardroom difficulties and tension within the club. The club will simply not be able to play the striker his astronomical wages of £ 250,000 per week without the support of the rich businessmen behind the team. However, he is threatening to leave the team after not being granted full control of the club.
The recent speculation has come about that Arsenal will be looking to sign the 34-year-old. Arsenal were one of the front-runners secure his signature when Didier Drogba was an unknown player in France. However, they decided not to bring him instead, which has proven to be one of the major disappointments for Arsene Wenger during his 15 years at the club. This is because Didier Drogba had become of the best players in the world winning all the major titles and scoring more than 150 goals for Chelsea during his eight-year stay with the club. He recently moved to Shanghai Shenhua after his contract with Chelsea came to an end.
“At the moment no. In my opinion he is not free. He has just left England. I don’t know about the situation because he came out with a completely different statement. You hear he might go to Real Madrid – but then he says ‘I am staying in China’. Is it just because he wants to be paid off? I don’t know,” said Arsene Wenger regarding the speculation linking Arsenal with a move for Didier Drogba. Signing the Ivorian will be a major coup for Arsenal given that they are struggling without the presence of Robert van Persie in the team.