DROGBA WOULD LOVE RIBERY AT THE BRIDGE
Didier Drogba would love it if Chelsea managed to complete the signing of Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery.
The France playmaker is expected to be sold this summer in order to avoid the scenario of him leaving for free when his contract expires in 2011.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and Manchester City have all joined Chelsea in showing an interest in Ribery.
The player himself has hinted that the warmer climate in Spain would be his preference for personal reasons, but Drogba would still like to see his former rival from French football at Stamford Bridge.
"I know Franck from my time at Guingamp," Drogba said in The Sun. "If he comes to Chelsea, I will be happy. He is hungry. I like hungry players."
Drogba has also revealed that he has reached an agreement with Frank Lampard over Chelsea's penalty-taking responsibility in the Premier League champions-elect's last game of the season against Wigan.
The Ivory Coast international is desperate to beat Wayne Rooney, of title rivals Manchester United, to the league's top scorer award, with both players currently level pegging on 26 goals.
"To finish above Rooney in the scorers' table would be the cherry on the cake," Drogba said.
"Three years ago, I finished above him and we didn't win the league. There was something missing.
"But if there is a penalty to take, I have already agreed with Lampard that I will take it."
Drogba believes that the John Terry affair earlier in the season came close to completely extinguishing Chelsea's title challenge.
"It was a key moment in our season because it corresponded with a period where we had lost points, a period where it was less good," he said. "But we stayed united, like we always do when there is a storm at the club.
"It is a period which cost us a lot of points. Here in England, it was enormous. It went from sport to being in the celebrity pages. The cameras were focused on all sorts of things rather than football and we lost our focus, unconsciously, which made us drop points."
i will prefer they buy back Arjen Robben, he is performing and maturing to be good, better than Ribery in Bayern. Real Madrid make a big mistake of selling him off, one wing clipped
the only setback for this is the amount of money they are looking for, these days the price is way too laughable to be considered as worthy buys anymore
They should be bidding for Messi! FTW...that would set the premiership alight again!
Bayern think that Ribery is anywhere near Ronaldo or Messi
Sigh,i stil like the Chelsea containing J.Cole,D.Duff and A.Robben.
Looks like Real is going for the younger, cheaper and more exciting Argentina winger Angel di Maria... Ribery might hav to settle for Chelsea or City...
ribery=over-rated.end of story.
overshadowed by robben..
i wouldn't want him though to be honest..too expensive..
Ribery is an excellent talent. I'd say at the current moment he has skills no other player in the BPL have.
Michael Ballack will be disposed off quickly... they need a replacement... $ not a problem for the rich owner....