Dider Drogba has assured Chelsea supporters he had no plans to leave the club. The Ivorian striker had threatened to leave Stamford Bridge on several occasions since his arrival for 24 million pounds sterling in 2004, but for now he appears committed to stay put.

With Drogba promising to stay and Chelsea having done next to nothing on the transfer market so far, it must feel like they have made a new signing altogether.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti has said several times, quoted by English media, that he expects Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko to depart the club before the end of the transfer window. Shevchenko never quite reached his full potential at Stamford Bridge, struggling to recreate the impact he made whilst playing for AC Milan.

Drogba "has given his word to Chelsea that he will sign a new contract in the next few weeks that is likely to result in him ending his career at the club," The Times of London said. It is expected that the player will offered a contract worth 120 000 a week and "the agreement has been reached in principle and the Ivory Coast striker is expected to sign before the start of the season."

Meanwhile, Chelsea travelled to the United States for their summer tour with Shevchenko and Claudio Pizarro, who both spent last season on loan, at AC Milan and Werder Bremen, respectively.

Following Chelsea's comfortable 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders on July 18, Ancelotti said that he wanted to field two forwards this season. One possible partner up front with Drogba is likely to be Daniel Sturridge, the English youngster signed from Manchester City, who had "impressed in training and on debut," The Guardian has said.