Chelsea in talks with MLS side Montreal Impact over Drogba’s future

Chelsea have held talks with Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise Montreal Impact over former Blues striker Didier Drogba, the Canadian team has said.

Struggling Premier League champions Chelsea have held talks with Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise Montreal Impact over former Blues striker Didier Drogba, the Canadian team has said.

Chelsea's new manager Guus Hiddink, left, sits next to former Chelsea player Didier Drogba, center, and club owner Roman Abramovich, right, during the EPL match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge in London on December 19, 2015. (AP Photo)

British media reported earlier this month that Chelsea’s billionaire owner Roman Abramovich was keen to offer Drogba a position on the team’s coaching staff.

“We are currently in contact with Didier Drogba and Chelsea FC,” Montreal Impact said on its Twitter page on Wednesday. “We are doing everything we can to have him back with the Impact in 2016.

“We understand his (Drogba) attachment to his former club and his desire to help them. We are willing to accommodate him.”

The Canadian team said they were working to get Drogba back for the next season but the situation was out of their control.

Drogba joined Montreal Impact in July after two stints with Chelsea, and spells in between at China’s Shanghai Shenhua FC and in Turkey with Galatasaray. The Ivorian was in the stands during Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Sunderland last weekend, along with interim manager Guus Hiddink.

“I worked with him five or six years ago and I was delighted to have such a professional in the squad,” Hiddink told British media on Wednesday.

“The official process (on Drogba) I do not know, but I spoke openly from the bottom of the heart that such impact players can be huge for the club,” he added.

Chelsea are 15th in the standings after 17 games and face seventh-placed Watford on Saturday.