Premier League - Kenyon: Drogba stays

Eurosport - Mon, 01 Dec 21:07:00 2008

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has insisted that Didier Drogba will not leave the club in January - nor will be any new faces arriving at Stamford Bridge once the transfer window opens.

FOOTBALL Chelsea Drogba - 0

The Ivorian striker's future has been the subject of much speculation after a troubled start to the season was followed by reports of a meeting with representatives of Italian champions Internazionale.

But Kenyon remains adamant Drogba will stay and honour his contract, which runs until the end of next season.

Kenyon told BBC Sport: "Didier's under contract for the next 18 months. He will be going nowhere in January."

He added: "Whether people leave Chelsea is as much down to us as anybody else. I don't know whether he did or he didn't (meet Inter representatives).

"But he's a big player for us and we want him back. He's one of those players who can make a difference."

Drogba has been regularly linked with a move elsewhere with Inter, now led by former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, the current favourites to entice him away from Stamford Bridge.

Reports of a meeting with Inter sporting director Marco Branca and Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes emerged in the build-up to the Blues' Champions League clash with Bordeaux.

Luiz Felipe Scolari denied he knew anything of the revelations and said: "I do not sleep with Drogba."

Drogba himself has done little to douse the flames of speculation, the striker merely reiterating he had a contract with Chelsea until 2010.

The former Marseille player has endured a difficult season and having missed the start of the campaign through injury he is yet to open his Premier League goals account.

And the 30-year-old is currently serving a three-match ban for throwing a coin back into the crowd during the Blues' Carling Cup defeat to Burnley.

But despite Drogba's problems, Kenyon appears determined to hang on to him, meaning there is little likelihood of Chelsea delving into the transfer market come January.

His regular involvement, along with the return of the likes of Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Essien and Juliano Belletti, will be relied on to help Chelsea's title push in the second half of the season.

"I don't think we will be doing any business in the January transfer window because the type of players we are looking for are not available," said Kenyon.

"Another reason is that we have still got some long-term injuries coming back and in January or February, Chelsea will have more player availability.

"We put our squad together in the summer and we are concentrating on the squad we have and making sure our players get back from injury. On that basis, we think we have got a good enough squad to improve on last season."

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 46 - 65 of 65

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  1. WHAT IS THE POINT OF KEEPING A PLAYER WHO HAS SAID FROM­ DAY 1 HE WANTS TO LEAVE. DO US ALL A FAVOUR DROGBA ­ PACK YER BAGS AND SOD OFF TO MILAN OR THE MOON.

    From chelsea trueblue, on Mon 15 Dec 4:51PM

  2. you are fpool of @#$% you people , you can count me out­ of your comments pannel n, i quit­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Leo, on Sun 7 Dec 6:04PM

  3. HEVERY BADY NO DAT CHELSEA IS LOVE BATTY HOLE

    From fluffy.bits, on Tue 2 Dec 10:54PM

  4. theres no point in keeping him if he wants to go &­ there is a lot of young talant out there what will cost­ a lot less than we can get for him & can serve the­ club for a lot longer so sadly i think if thats what he­ wants we should sell him

    From U R SOLES, on Tue 2 Dec 5:27PM

  5. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING­ CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP
    ALL MATCHES ON WEB: ­ PREMIER LEAGUE, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA AND CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE - UEFA CUP
    ALL THE HIGH-LIGHTS OF PREMIER­ LEAGUE MATCHES

    From go to www.premiership.altervista.org, on Tue 2 Dec 3:44PM

  6. chelsea still need a player who can score goals

    From billandpatatbromdon, on Tue 2 Dec 11:52AM

  7. I think that Ballack is too vocal about Liver­ pool's chances,he should stop talking and­ concentrate on his form to help d team achieve­ something this season cos Liverpool is still in d­ equation no matter how u want to look at d Premiership.

    From inyangumonko2002, on Tue 2 Dec 11:25AM

  8. Chelsea cannot afford to slip again against the big­ four,the earlier they shake off the psychological­ effect of playing at home the better.I think when all­ the injured players are back in d 2nd phase­ Chelsea's squad will be better.

    From inyangumonko2002, on Tue 2 Dec 11:15AM

  9. Scolari should devote more time to improving the­ sharpness of Anelka and Solomon Kalou in front of goal­ as they should always have it in mind that there­ goalscoring ability have always been in doubt without­ the pressence of Drogba.

    From okoyegodwin30, on Tue 2 Dec 10:13AM

  10. chelesa can still improve on there performance,the only­ problem they are having now is the non involvement of­ Drogba in most of there matches either due to injury or­ suspension.Drogba has proven to be the back bone of­ chelsea in bigger occassions,and it was quite­ unfortunate that his presencs was highly missed in­ those occassions.his coming back to the squad coupled­ with some other key players like Essien,Carvaho and­ Ballack will deffinitely set the stage open for an­ improved performance.

    From okoyegodwin30, on Tue 2 Dec 10:06AM

  11. we need drogba . for match winning performance

    From ziya_aza, on Tue 2 Dec 9:57AM

  12. chelsea and man u only the team r stronger to the­ title...ballack is almost true...there will be two­ horse race...

    From aie chelsea, on Tue 2 Dec 6:49AM

  13. Live a fool only draw?loser team!

    From aie chelsea, on Tue 2 Dec 6:47AM

  14. #43, just shtfu u Delussioned manure fan. Manure's­ results havent been great either.

    From aufadanial, on Tue 2 Dec 6:46AM

  15. Chelsea will win all the away games againts the big­ 4!they are more stronger next year...no needs new­ player...

    From aie chelsea, on Tue 2 Dec 6:44AM

  16. Other fans that are sayin bad things about chelsea i­ just have one word for you guys....... The end will­ justify the means. From onyedika

    From dikasmith, on Mon 1 Dec 10:44PM

  17. Other fans that are sayin bad things about chelsea i­ just have one word for you guys....... The end will­ justify the means. From onyedika

    From dikasmith, on Mon 1 Dec 10:41PM

  18. Other clubs that are chelsea i just have one word for­ you guys....... The end will justify the means. From­ onyedika

    From dikasmith, on Mon 1 Dec 10:39PM

  19. Other clubs that are chelsea i just have one word for­ you guys....... The end will justify the means. From­ onyedika

    From dikasmith, on Mon 1 Dec 10:38PM

  20. I think the Scouser's need Drogba , West Ham ­ showed them for what they;a shi~t Scouse pub team.

    From derek, on Mon 1 Dec 10:09PM
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