Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is facing a minimum three-game ban after admitting a violent conduct charge on the day it emerged he is wanted by Real Madrid as a replacement for the injured Ruud van Nistelrooy.


Ivory Coast striker Drogba will learn his fate on Tuesday when an FA regulatory commission meets to decide his punishment for throwing a coin back into the crowd during Chelsea's penalty shoot-out defeat by Burnley in the Carling Cup last Wednesday.

The FA have set a precedent for coin throwing, banning Jamie Carragher for three games for his reaction at Highbury in 2002 when the Liverpool defender received a red card.


Real sporting director Predrag Mijatovic is an admirer of the 30-year-old and is desperate to capture an experienced replacement for Van Nistelrooy, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.


The fruitless pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo and Chelsea's £20million valuation of Drogba put paid to Real's interest in the summer.


But with Real ready to pay up to £15m for him in January and with only 18 months remaining on his contract, Chelsea could be tempted, especially after Luiz Felipe Scolari has been told cash will be short for the transfer window.


Injury has restricted Drogba to one Barclays Premier League start this season, while Nicolas Anelka has shone in his absence, scoring 13 goals in all competitions. Anelka's blistering form could tempt Scolari to cash in and use the money to fund a suitable replacement. (DAILY MAIL)

Is Drogba so much of a liability that Chelsea should let him go now? Surely he is extremely difficult to replace, so should Chelsea keep him regardless? If Scolari does let him go, who should he replace him with?