Wenger rules out move for Drogba

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out making a move for former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba in the near future.

The 34-year-old Ivory Coast international brought an end to an eight-year stay at Stamford Bridge at the end of last season, moving to Shanghai Shenhua on a deal believed to be worth 200,000 pounds per week.

However, a behind-the-scenes power struggle at the Chinese Super League outfit has led to rumours that Drogba is looking for a way out, with the club struggling to pay his wages.

But Wenger has denied that he is interested in offering Drogba a dramatic and early top-flight return.

“At the moment no. In my opinion he is not free. He has just left England,” Wenger told reporters.

“I don’t know about the situation because he came out with a completely different statement.

“You hear he might go to Real Madrid – but then he says ‘I am staying in China’. Is it just because he wants to be paid off? I don’t know.”

La Liga champions Real Madrid along with Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool side have been mooted as possible future destinations should he leave China, although the player’s representatives denied that Drogba wanted to leave last week.