Emmanuel Adebayor set to replace Didier Drogba at Chelsea

Didier Drogba will leave Chelsea this summer and Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor is favourite to replace him.

Carlo Ancelotti, who has given a verbal undertaking to Roman Abramovich that he will leave AC Milan for Chelsea, has named Adebayor as the man he wants to replace Drogba.

Adebayor’s future at Arsenal has been clouded in doubt for over a year and his recent performances in the Champions League semi-final games with Manchester United infuriated Gunners fans.

Drogba will pay the price for his outrageous Champions League antics and Chelsea will want around £10millionfor the African, even though he has just 12 months left on his contract.

Senior club figures were livid at Drogba’s behaviour at the end of last week’s game against Barcelona and the FA Cup Final could now be his last in a Chelsea shirt.

UEFA will decide what disciplinary action to take tomorrow and Chelsea are also likely to fine the striker.

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Nicolas Anelka is set to remain at Stamford Bridge. His 23 goals this season, including a career-best haul of 17 in the Premier League alongside his commitment in training and displays in the recent pressure games, have seen his stock rise and his sale is no longer seen as a priority.

Chelsea are also keen on landing left-sided Russian Yuri Zhirkov, who is versatile enough to fill any position on that flank.

Meanwhile, one of the men Ancelotti is poised to leave behind in Milan has come out in support of his boss, despite owner Silvio Berlusconi’s attack on the 49-year-old.

Gennaro Gattuso said: "When I wanted to leave, our vice-president Adriano Galliani and Ancelotti, locked me in Milan’s trophy room and convinced me to stay. Now, if necessary, I will lock up Ancelotti. He has a great relationship in the dressing room and everyone at Milan wants him to remain."