THERE is no guarantee that Didier Drogba will still be at Stamford Bridge next season, even though he is in talks over a new contract at Chelsea.

The 31-year-old Ivorian, whose current deal runs out at the end of next season, was a notable absentee from the Jose Mourinho wish list at Inter Milan, who have tabled a £12million bid for Deco and Ricardo Carvalho.

The former Chelsea boss is keen to be re-united with his fellow countrymen at the San Siro but no mention was made of recruiting Drogba - even though Mourinho is such a big admirer of the Blues striker that he once jetted out to Africa with Roman Abramovich just to watch him in action for his country. That all suggests the mercurial Drogba - who enjoyed a new lease of life under interim boss Guus Hiddink - will prolong his five-year stay in west London.

Not so, according to one of his representatives. Negotiations on a contract extension are thought to be under way, but the striker has yet to put pen to paper.

"Drogba is not about to reach an agreement," Drogba's spokesman said. "Saying that he is going to sign on is premature."