Andre Villas-Boas hopeful about retaining Didier Drogba

It is reported that Drogba could possibly move to clubs in France or China for a better deal.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas hoped that his talks with Didier Drogba would end fruitfully despite talks about Drogba moving to clubs in France or China.

The Blues striker is out of contract at Stamford Bridge and he is free to talk with clubs over a possible move. He wanted an extended run with Chelsea but his demands of a two-year deal seemed to be turned down as Chelsea is only interested to give the veteran striker a one-year deal.

Drogba’s agent, Thiemo Seydi had previously admitted that the striker “will go where he is offered the most money.” He was tipped to sign with a club in France or China, as the latter was reportedly offering him the costliest deal.

But Andre Villas-Boas was hopeful about retaining him.

“We’ve had these talks before,” he said.

In his talks that has reportedly reached a stalemate, “Our interest is there and the agreement hasn’t been done,” he said.

Regarding Drogba’s future with the club, Villas-Boas was willing to look both sides of the coin.

“January arrives and the player is free to start speaking to other people and he has this advantage but his integrity and his values are never in question, neither his professionalism. We have to reach an agreement. It’s a two-way process and it’s been on-going for quite some time. We could have reached an agreement earlier but it wasn’t the case and now January arrives for the player to consider his options.”

“For me as a manager it’s important to count on the player and person and I’m sure I can have it 100 per cent.”

Didier Drogba has scored 150 goals in 321 games for Chelsea since he joined the club in 2004.