Didier Drogba is closing in on a return to European football after his management company confirmed Galatasaray had made “a formal bid” for him.

Reports in Turkey suggest Drogba has already signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with the Turkish club, with the 34-year-old looking set to quit Shanghai Shenhua after just six months in China, despite signing a €295,000 a week, two-and-a-half-year deal in the summer.

During his time in China he lined up with his former Chelsea team-mate Nicolas Anelka, who himself recently secured a move back to Europe, signing for Juventus until the end of the season.

Galatasaray have already signed Wesley Sneijder from Internazionale this month, and they have also been linked with the Manchester City defender Kolo Touré, as they look to bolster their squad ahead of their tie against Schalke in the last 16 of the Champions League