Drogba to decide on future in ten days

CHELSEA striker Didier Drogba is expected to decide his future before the end of the month – but Jose Mourinho is prepared to wait longer for Frank Lampard.

Drogba, 30, has appeared unsettled at the club since the departure of Mourinho, with Barcelona thought to be monitoring his situation, although the possibility of extending his contract at Stamford Bridge has been raised.

Internazionale, Mourinho's new club, have also been linked with the Ivory Coast international who scored 15 goals last season in a campaign hit by injuries and which ended with a dismissal in the Champions League final and Manchester United winning on penalties.

Although his departure was tipped, Drogba's future will be determined in the near future, according to his agent Thierno Seydi.

Seydi told France Football: "Didier has given himself ten days. If nothing happens he will stay and extend his contract by two years."

Lampard's future has looked as insecure as Drogba's, as the midfielder has not signed a new contract with Chelsea, with Mourinho ready to take him to Inter.

Amid the uncertainty, Lampard has been training in Chelsea's Cobham headquarters in Surrey.

FIXTURES

Uefa Cup

First qualifying round, first leg: Cherno More v UE Sant Julia (6.30); Pelister Bitola v Apoel Nicosia (5.00); FC Vaduz v Zrinjski Mostar (7.00); Siroki Brijeg v Partizani Tirana (7.15); Hapoel Ironi v Mogren (5.00); Koper v KS Vllaznia (7.30); Hajduk Split v Birkirkara (8.00); Marsaxlokk FC v NK Slaven Koprivnica (7.00); Gyori ETO v FC Zestafoni (7.00); Ararat Yerevan v Bellinzona (3.00); FC Dacia v Borac (6.00); Tobol v FK Austria Magna (4.00); Hertha Berlin v FC Nistru (7.15); Khazar Lenkoran v Lech Poznan (5.00); Legia Warsaw v Gomel FC (7.45); Spartak Trnava v WIT Georgia Tbilisi (7.15); MTZ-RIPO v MSK Zilina (4.00); Shakhtyor Karaganda v Debrecen (2.00); FH Hafnarfjordur v CS Grevenmacher (8.15); FK Vetra v Viking FK (5.00); Racing Luxembourg v Kalmar FF (6.30); FC Honka v IA Akranes (4.30); Glentoran v SK Liepajas Metalurgs (7.45); Brondby v B36 Torshavn (7.00); EB Streymur v Manchester City (7.00); JFK Olimps v St Patricks (4.00); Djurgardens IF v Flora Tallinn (6.00); FK Suduva v The New Saints FC (5.00); Cliftonville v FC Copenhagen (7.45); Cork v FC Haka (7.45); SV Red Bull Salzburg v Banants Yerevan (7.30); Bangor City v FC Midtjylland (7.30); Zeta v Ljubljana (7.30); Hapoel Tel-Aviv v Juvenes/Dogana (5.00); Omonia Nicosia v FK Milano (6.00); Vojvodina v Olimpik Baku (5.00); TVMK Tallinn v FC Nordsjaelland (4.30).

Friendly matches

Berwick v Hamilton (7.30); CFR Cluj-Napoca v Motherwell (6.00); Coldstream v Kelso United (7.15); Falkirk v Hartlepool (12.00); Forfar v Hibernian XI (7.30); Hampton & Richmond v West Ham (7.30).

RESULTS

Uefa Champions League

First qualifying round, first leg: Aktobe 1, FC Sheriff 0; Drogheda Utd L, Levadia Tallinn L; Dinamo Tbilisi 3, NSI Runavik 0; Linfield L, Dinamo Zagreb L.

Friendly matches: Tolka Rovers L, Dundee Utd L; Airdrie Utd L, Hamilton L; Dunfermline L, Hearts L; Exeter L, Portsmouth L; Borussia Moenchengladbach 2, West Brom 1; Lucerne L, Liverpool L.