Shenhua trying to lure Drogba

Big-spending Shanghai Shenhua have revealed they are still in discussions with Didier Drogba over a deal to bring the Ivorian to the club.

A Shanghai television broadcaster reported earlier this week that Shenhua were on the verge of a deal for the Ivory Coast striker, who is out of contract at Stamford Bridge at season’s end and is reportedly also being chased by clubs from Russia and the MLS.

But Shenhua officials denied the report, with owner Zhou Jun confirming on his Weibo (the Chinese version of Twitter) on Tuesday that no deal had been agreed.

Zhu did, however, say the club are still very much in the race for Drogba and confirmed discussions are being held with the Ivory Coast man’s management.

“Maybe we can complete a deal before Chinese New Year (January 23),” he said.

English newspaper The Mirror claimed last week the Chinese club, who recently signed Nicolas Anelka from Chelsea, were closing in on Drogba with a lucrative two-and-a-half year deal believed to be worth 360,000 euros per week.