West Ham United could get a second chance at finally signing a Drogba if they play their cards right.
West Ham have been forced to overhaul their recruitment process and transfer policy following a string of transfer windows failures culminating in the departure of chief talent spotter Tony Henry.
The new setup will see the Hammers introduce a bigger, more widespread scouting network to identify potential signings.
And one player that should be on the list for the coming years is Isaac Droga, son of Premier League legend Didier.
Drogba junior, 17, has joined Ligue 1 side Guingamp – just like his dad – as part of their U19 academy, the French team announced on Monday, as reported by Sky Sports.
The Ivory Coast hero became a legend with West Ham’s London rivals Chelsea but it could well have been with the Hammers.
Speaking to Sky Sports’ Goals on Sunday back in 2016, Drogba revealed that, whilst he was playing for Guingamp in France, he had the chance to sign for the Hammers.
Drogba claims that West Ham came to his house for talks over a transfer to Upton Park, but he rejected the move as he wasn’t ready to leave France for a move to England – even though he did finally become a Premier League player just two years later.
“I was at Guingamp at that time,” he said.
“I’d just arrived at the club and they came to my house and spoke, but it didn’t happen. I wasn’t ready to go.”
West Ham did not go back in for Drogba and he went on to sign for Marseille and then Chelsea where he became one of the Hammers’ chief tormentors over the years.
Despite the move to the London Stadium West Ham have not been able to compete for top class talent in the transfer market.
Their new recruitment policy will undoubtedly focus on unearthing gems or taking a chance on up-and-coming starlets to beat the elite to the punch.
If Drogba junior is even half the player his dad was, he is well worth tracking for West Ham.
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