Should Didier Drogba be sold over the summer?

Chelsea and in particular their striker Didier Drogba have been under fire in the last week since their acrimonious exit from the Champions League. but calls to offload Drogba are wide of the mark, says former Stamford Bridge and West Ham defender Scott Minto in the Guardian.

Granted, "it's been a difficult season for Drogba and he was out of sorts when Guus Hiddink first came in, but since then he's played regularly and is probably the best lone striker in the world". argues Minto.

"He's big and strong and Chelsea have been playing a 4-3-3 system for the last few years that really suits him." Of the other strikers in the world at the top of their game, Minto feels that only Liverpool's Fernando Torres pushes him close "but he plays in a different system at Liverpool and relies less on his strength and power."

And "Drogba is more than just a brilliant striker -  with his aerial power he is almost an extra centre-half for Chelsea," the former left back notes approvingly. While "some critics have pointed out that he's made sounds about leaving Stamford Bridge in the past, he seems happy at the moment and there's no reason to question his loyalty to the Chelsea team right now," as the unpleasant events at Stamford Bridge last week displayed.

"There was some disappointment among the fans with Drogba's behaviour in last season's Champions League final, when he was sent off for slapping Nemanja Vidic. But this season he's scored goals, conjured up assists and worked tremendously hard for the team and I think a good proportion of the fans would be sorry to see him leave now."

Minto concludes by asking who Chelsea could possibly replace Drogba with, given the Ivorian's reduced worth in the transfer market due to his advancing years. ·