Chelsea may be wanting Didier Drogba to return to the club this season but Manchester City are trying to pour cold water on their plans, according to reports.
It was reported yesterday that a deal between the Blues and former player Drogba was imminent, but the latest is that Manchester City are trying to muscle in and get him first.
The Ivory Coast striker was at Galatasaray on an 18-month contract that just wound down with the end of the Turkish Super Lig season.
As he contemplates his next move, Jeremy Cross over at the Daily Star is reporting that it may not be the Blues but rather Manchester City who get him.
Manchester City reportedly want him as a replacement for Alvaro Negredo, who will be out of action for the "next few months" after breaking his fifth metatarsal.
Cross says the move would be short-term, on a 12-month contract.
Drogba has a firm place in the hearts of Chelsea fans and goes back a long time with Jose Mourinho, who first signed him to Stamford Bridge back in 2004.
It turned out to be a good move for the club, with Drogba going on to score 157 goals during his eight-year run with the Blues and helping them win three Premier League titles.
The memories of him are all fond, as he exited the club on a high note after scoring the winning penalty in the 2011-2012 Champions League final.
Cross speculates that he might be tempted to make the move to the reigning champions for the right sum.
If the 36-year-old does decide to stick with Chelsea, it would be on the same short-term contract of one year. And the Daily Mail reports that the door would be open for a coaching role once his playing contract had come to an end.
Players already signed to Chelsea this summer are Cesc Fabregas, who is coming to Stamford Bridge from Barcelona for £30m; Diego Costa who signed to the club for £32m from Atletico Madrid; and Mario Pasalic who is moving from Hadjuk Split for an undisclosed sum.
