Arsene Wenger has denied that Arsenal are preparing to offer Didier Drogba a route out of China, after reports emerged last week that the Ivorian may be having a few problems at Shanghai Shenhua. Drogba moved from Chelsea to Shanghai on a free transfer this summer; his last kick for Chelsea was the winning penalty in the Champions league final and he decided that it was an appropriate time to bow out and say goodbye to the Premier League.

The suggestion is that both Drogba and Nicholas Anelka are at the centre of several boardroom disputes over player wages amid some severe financial difficulties. Shenhua are apparently not as cash-rich as has previously been suggested.

Drogba was linked with a last-minute move to either of Liverpool or Real Madrid towards the end of the transfer window, but neither of these moves ever materialized. A move to Real is not as unlikely as it sounds; I wouldn’t be surprised if former boss Jose Mourinho were to get him for one last year.

Wenger said the following:

“At the moment no. In my opinion he is not free. He has just left England.

“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.”

The quotes might indicate that if Drogba were free, Wenger would be interested. And why not? Drogba was and still is a terrific player. But given his hero status at Chelsea, I doubt he would even consider moving to a London rival. Not only that, but there is no way we would offer him the money he would demand. And if that isn’t enough, I just don’t see him fitting into our team, regardless of how good he is. His style is Chelsea through-and-through.

Sounds like a journalist decided to fabricate an unusual transfer rumour just to get some views, after he heard Drogba may leave China. I wouldn’t bet a thing on this one happening.