Didier Drogba to decide on MLS deal “in next 48 hours”

The Chicago Fire have offered all they can to sign Didier Drogba. Now, it’s up to the Chelsea legend to decide if he wants to join MLS.

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Drogba, 37, is a free agent after leaving reigning Premier League champions Chelsea last season following his second spell with the Stamford Bridge club.

Both Chicago and the Montreal Impact from Major League Soccer are interested in signing the Ivorian striker, but Chicago has the edge as they have a Discovery Claim on Drogba.

Speaking to reporters after the Fire’s 3-1 U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal win over Orlando City on Wednesday’s, Yallop is hopeful Drogba will be lining up in Illinois soon.

“We’re waiting on an answer, probably in the next 48 hours,” Yallop said. “We’re just waiting for a decision from their side on what way he wants to go. He has choices. We feel that we’ve put a pretty good pitch in. He’s very happy with what we’ve done, but, again, it’s up the person himself to choose, and we’ll see.”

Question marks remain over whether or not the man who won four PL titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and a UEFA Champions League with Chelsea can still cut it in the pro game, but he did score seven times in 38 appearances last season, with most of his minutes coming off the bench.

Drogba’s arrival in MLS would be huge for commercial reasons and for whichever club he picks but many question whether the legendary striker arriving in a market such as Chicago or Montreal -- both languishing towards the bottom of the Eastern Conference and haven’t seriously challenged for MLS Cup in recent years -- is a good idea.

Well, let’s wait and see what the next 48 hours brings.

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