Shanghai Shenhua: Drogba talks progressing as planned

May 23, 2012 2:00:00 PM

Chelsea forward has announced his intention to leave the club when his contract expires this summer and is widely expected to link up with former team-mate Nicolas Anelka in China

Shanghai Shenhua owner Jun Zhu has revealed that talks with Chelsea striker Didier Drogba over a proposed summer move are progressing "as planned".

The Ivory Coast international announced his intention to depart the Stamford Bridge club earlier this week having secured Champions League glory with his last kick in a Blues shirt.

Speculation as to where the striker's future lies has been rife, though he is now widely expected to link up with former Blues team-mate Nicolas Anelka at Shanghai.

DROGBA TO DEPART CHELSEA

The striker is leaving the club after eight years but is unsure where his future lies

Anelka originally joined the Chinese outfit as a player but has since gone on to take up a player-manager role.

Reports have suggested that Drogba could be set to earn £250,000-per-week at the Far East club, and club owner Zhu says that he is happy with how talks are progressing

"As of now, Shenhua's negotiations with Drogba are continuing just as planned," he told the Oriental Sports Daily.

Drogba leaves Chelsea with a cult status amongst the Blues fans, and an astonishing record for the club, especially in cup finals.

The Ivorian tallied 157 goals in 341 appearances for the club over eight years, a spell which saw him become the first ever African player to score 100 goals in the Premier League, and the only player to score in four different FA Cup finals.

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