Chelsea Transfer News: Didier Drogba Return Wanted by Players, Top Rumours

Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba is reportedly wanted back at Stamford Bridge by some of the Blues' top players in an attempt to boost morale after their awful start to the season.

The Ivorian striker left Chelsea for the second time at the end of the 2014-15 Premier League-winning season ahead of joining MLS side Montreal Impact, with whom he netted 12 goals in 14 appearances, per WhoScored.com.

With the Impact's MLS season now over, Chelsea's players want Drogba, 37, to return to train with them until January in the hope that he can have a positive impact on the squad, per the Sun's Andrew Dillon.

Per Dillon, a Chelsea source revealed that Drogba's influence in his previous spells in west London was vital in boosting team morale:

Didier was always the man who kept spirits up. He can speak three or four languages and was on great terms with pretty much every different nationality in the whole squad. He was the one who used to post pictures of the players together on Instagram. He bought the gold rings for his team-mates to commemorate the Champions League win in 2012. A few players have spoken about how they miss him and it would be great if he could come back to train and reignite the old spark.

Recent reports coming out of Stamford Bridge indicate that all is not well at the moment in the Chelsea dressing room, with Cesc Fabregas having to deny rumours that he is leading a revolt against manger Jose Mourinho, per BBC Sport.

The Blues' 1-0 defeat to Stoke City on Saturday was their third Premier League loss on the bounce and seventh of the season.

The defending champions currently lie 16th in the English top flight, just three points above the relegation zone.

Their chances of finishing the 2015-16 campaign in the top four are becoming slimmer and slimmer—Chelsea need to average almost 2.5 points per game for the rest of the season if they are to finish on 70 points, as Manchester United did in finishing fourth last term.

Mourinho's position as manager is becoming ever more fragile with Bleacher Report's Dean Jones having previously analysed a number of candidates who could take over from the Portuguese:

Chelsea need all the help they can get as they attempt to turn their season around, and if Drogba's brief return could boost morale at the club, it would be worth bringing the Blues legend back to the club.

However, Chelsea also need an addition of quality personnel as so many of their stars from last term have been under-performing this season.

According to John Cross in the Mirror, Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain is on Mourinho's list of targets, although the striker may not be available until the summer.

The Argentine striker has been in fine form in Serie A this season, netting nine times in 12 appearances, per WhoScored.

As an alternative to the struggling Diego Costa, Higuain, 27, would be a fantastic option and his experience should allow him to adapt well to life in the Premier League.