Didier Drogba will reject a return to Chelsea to sign for Galatasaray this week. The Daily Mail says Roman Abramovich gave the go-ahead last week to offer Drogba a deal until the end of the season, with an option for a further year.

Incredibly the talks were so far advanced that Chelsea were convinced that the man who delivered the European Cup last season was on the brink of signing before Thursday's transfer deadline.

Drogba, whose family still live in Surrey and whose children attend Chelsea's academy, has been training with his old team-mates ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations and they initially began teasing him that he wanted to return.

Despite the temptation to relive the glory years with his former team-mates, he will guarantee Champions League football by signing for Galatasaray.