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Anelka expectant over Drogba arrival

Nicolas Anelka is eager to bring former team-mate Didier Drogba to Shanghai Shenhua from Chelsea © Getty Images

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Nicolas Anelka has said he is hopeful that former Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba will join him at Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua in the near future.

Anelka has been appointed to the club's coaching staff amid confusion over Jean Tigana's position, with conflicting reports saying the former Fulham boss had either quit or been relieved of his position as manager.

Tigana has denied all suggested stories and in the meantime Anelka, whose own position has not been fully clarified, is aiming to bring his former colleague Drogba to the Far East when his contract with Chelsea expires in the summer.

"I hope Selim Benachour and Didier Drogba will join us soon," Anelka told Le Journal du Dimanche. "I hope they come. It is up to the club to see if we have the right means to make it happen."

Speaking about Tigana's fate, Anelka continued: "I don't know what happened with the coach, but it looked like an impasse. As usual I will take on and try to seize the challenge, which is the greatest of my career. We start almost from scratch again.

"Florent Ibenge will take the daily training sessions. To assist us there will be Alioune Toure and Ian Walker for the keepers."

After spending the majority of his playing career in England, Anelka admitted that his coaching philosophy had been greatly influenced by his time in the Premier League.

"I have been impressed by Carlo Ancelotti, Kevin Keegan, Arsene Wenger, Guus Hiddink, Christoph Daum and Sam Allardyce," he said. "I have also looked at Alex Ferguson and Harry Redknapp. I have a very English coaching philosophy."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.