Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas reveals Didier Drogba yet to agree contract extension at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is hopeful Didier Drogba will sign a new contract with the club as protracted talks continue.

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The Ivory Coast international, who arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2004 from Marseille for £24 million, has a current deal that runs out at the end of the season and has yet to reach an agreement to extend his stay in west London.

The Blues boss is wary the 33-year-old can begin talks with sides from January, with a return to Ligue 1 and a move to China recently touted, but he believes even if Drogba does opt to leave the club, his commitment will not drop in the slightest.

“We've had these talks before,” he told reporters on Friday. “Our interest is there and the agreement hasn't been done.

“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.”

The former Porto manager also revealed Michael Essien could soon return from a knee injury picked up in pre-season training.

“I think [he could begin training] mid-January,” added the Portuguese coach.

“He will be introduced to first-team activity in mid-January and contention properly I think we are looking at three weeks for him to gain form and start competing to the level that the others are.

“It could take less time if we are positive about it and maybe in two weeks he can reach that level of form to come back for the team.”

The 34-year-old coach is doubtful, however, that two other absentees – the injured Branislav Ivanovic and John Obi Mikel – will play any part in Chelsea’s upcoming fixtures with Aston Villa and Wolves.

“I think Ivanovic and Obi are making good progress but will continue to be out of the game, these two fixtures that are coming, and also Essien the same,” he added.