Even as Didier Drogba prepares for the Champions League final against Manchester United on May 21, possibly his last match for Chelsea, the London club is already preparing for life beyond the mercurial striker.
- 'Terry, Drogba should be fit for Champions League final'
According to The Times, Drogba, unhappy with the wage differential between himself and the club's top earners-- John Terry, Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko, could be sold at the end of the season.
Italy's AC Milan and Inter Milan are the top contenders as of now.
The 30-year-old has three years left on the (US $ 184,534) £95,000-a-week deal he signed last season.
'While Avram Grant, the Chelsea first-team coach, is happy with Drogba's contribution on the pitch, others at the club have tired of his attitude, shown by inconsistent performances and frequent threats to leave, and will let him go if they receive a suitable bid this summer,' the report said.
'AC Milan have expressed an interest and Inter Milan could join in the bidding if, as expected, José Mourinho is appointed in place of Roberto Mancini as coach at the end of the season.'
The report also said that Chelsea have identified Mario Gómez, of VfB Stuttgart, Dimitar Berbatov, currently at Tottemhan Hotspur and Valencia's David Villa as possible replacements for Drogba.
Meanwhile, Drogba and captain Terry are expected to be fit for the final in Moscow after they suffered injuries during Chelsea's last EPL game against Bolton Wanderers.
"I got a blow on my knee which got surgery, and it had a bad reaction," Drogba told L'Equipe. "I immediately put some ice on, but there is nothing serious.
"There is nothing more serious with John," added Drogba. "I had a talk with him. He will play at Moscow.
"Anyway, no one wants to miss that huge rendezvous. It is the match of our careers, to me it is for sure."
The Ivory Coast player however chose to remain silent on his future at Chelsea.
"Today I just have the Moscow final in my mind. What will happen in June or July? I don't know yet."
Photograph: Getty Images
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