Juventus interested in Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba’s Chinese adventure could be over before it has begun in earnest, if reports are to be believed, as an ownership dispute at Shanghai Shenhua threatens his future with the club.

The 34-year-old, who left Chelsea on a free transfer at the end of last season, could reportedly be sold in order to balance the books, along with former Blues teammate Nicolas Anelka.

But, should Drogba be made available, where would he go? GMF takes a look at five elite European sides who may have an interest in the Ivorian…

JUVENTUS
Reports in Italy claim Juventus are monitoring Drogba’s current situation in China as the Serie A champions search the market for goalscoring reinforcements. Juve have become frustrated in their pursuit of Fernando Llorente.

REAL MADRID
Drogba held talks with Real Madrid towards the end of last season as he considered his options post-Chelsea. Jose Mourinho is still a huge fan of his former charge, and is likely to interest in events in Shanghai.

BARCELONA
Barcelona president Sandro Rosell rubbished reports in June that the Catalan giants were pursuing Drogba’s signature. But Tito Vilanova has yet to bolster his forward ranks, and could do far worse than making a late swoop for Drogba.

CHELSEA
Drogba was back at Cobham yesterday, fuelling speculation that he could perform a dramatic u-turn and rejoin Chelsea. He was, however, just visiting friends and family in London.

ARSENAL
Perhaps slightly left-field, but Arsene Wenger has a long-standing interest in Drogba. The Gunners are in need of a proven Premier League goalscorer, but Drogba’s wages would surely prove too much for them.