Guangzhou Evergrande rule out Didier Drogba move

Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande have ruled out a transfer move for Chelsea's Didier Drogba.

Reports had suggested that the Super League champions were prepared to make the Chelsea hitman the world's highest-paid player, but the club have now dismissed any interest in the striker.

"We have [had] no contact with Drogba whatsoever, nor ... authorised anyone to contact him," a statement on the club's website read.

"The recent Drogba reports are pure speculation, he is not in our plans."

Attention is now likely to move to Chinese rivals Shanghai Shenhua, after they signed Drogba's former Chelsea strike partner Nicolas Anelka last month.