DROGBA REACHES BARCA ACCORD

Didier Drogba could be on the verge of a move to Barcelona after being told of the package he would receive at Camp Nou, but must now tell Chelsea he wants to leave.

The Ivory Coast striker is unsettled and talks of joining the Blaugrana has now made his mind up to find a way out of Stamford Bridge in the next ten days, according to Sport.

Having pulled out of Chelsea's pre-season trip to the Far East with an injury, negotiations are set to continue with Barça ready to make their interest concrete with a firm offer.
Roman Abramovich is loathe to allow his star striker to leave and Luis Felipe Scolari has stated that Drogba is a key member of his squad, but if the player is clearly unhappy then a deal could be done.

Chelsea will take the transfer fee and make an approach for a replacement, but talk of a swap deal involving Samuel Eto'o is said to be not on the agenda.

Drogba is now Barça's priority after the club pulled out of a move to prise Emmanuel Adebayor away from Arsenal and are taking encouragement from the Blues player's agent.

Thierno Seydi told the Star Afrique newspaper only last week that his client was keen on a change of scenery and stated that he expected something to be decided by July 27.

If Chelsea appear to relent in their plan to hold on to Drogba then Inter could well join Barça in the chase for his signature, with José Mourinho still a fan of the powerful forward.

Blaugrana boss Pep Guardiola has told Eto'o that he is no longer part of his plans and the club is scouring the market for a striker worthy of replacing the Cameroonian international.

Dimitar Berbatov has also been strongly linked to the club with a possible swap deal that could see Rafa Márquez move to White Hart Lane being mooted.