Chelsea will release striker Didier Drogba at the end of the season, according to a report.
The Mirror claims that club executives intend to usher the striker out this summer and build the team around Fernando Torres.
Drogba allegedly wants to remain at Stamford Bridge for a further two years before retiring, but the Champions League final clash against Bayern Munich on May 19 could be his last game for the Blues.
The 34-year-old, who scored the winning goal in last weekend's 2-1 FA Cup semi-final win over Liverpool, has been linked with a move to Nicolas Anelka's Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.
Drogba has scored 12 goals this season, five of which have come under interim boss Roberto Di Matteo.
He joined Chelsea from Marseille in 2004 for £24m.
Written by
Mark Langshaw
Mark Langshaw
