Juventus have made "significant progress" in their bid to sign Didier Drogba, who has agreed in principle to an 18-month deal with the Serie A champions, reports said Sunday.
The 34-year-old signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Shanghai Shenhua in July but the Ivory Coast striker could be reconsidering his options after a disappointing start to his career in China, where Shenhua recently finished well down the league table.
Drogba has recently been in London, where his representatives have reportedly been in talks with Juventus management over a future deal. Reports on Saturday said Juventus had originally offered a six-month deal for Drogba while he was seeking a two-and-a-half year deal.
A compromise now appears to have been reached, according to Gazzetta dello Sport's website which said Sunday both parties had agreed "in principle" to an 18-month contract.
Sunday's report said that while Juventus president Beppe Moratta has offered Drogba 3.5 million euros plus bonuses per season the striker's demands hover around the five million mark, plus bonuses. Considered a legend at Chelsea, Drogba - who headed the equaliser and scored the winning penalty in the Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich last season - would likely rile some fans of the London club if he does agree to join Juventus.
Juventus routed Chelsea 3-0 in Turin recently on their way to qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League, as the Blues became the first defending champions to fail to make it past the group stages.