Didier Drogba's Galatasaray Transfer in Limbo as Shenhua Threaten FIFA Action

Having already completed the highly coveted transfer of Wesley Sneijder this January, Turkish giants Galatasaray looked to have pulled off another major coup when they announced the signing of former Chelsea legend and then Shanghai Shenhua striker Didier Drogba on an 18-month deal according to ESPN and Drogba's player agency's official Twitter account:

Drogba said through his representatives, Sports PR Company, on Twitter:

"

Didier @fondationdrogbasaid "the opportunity to play for this great club was an offer that I could not turn down....

— Sports PR Company (@SportsPRCompany) January 28, 2013

... I am looking forward to playing in the Champions League again, against the best clubs in Europe."

— Sports PR Company (@SportsPRCompany) January 28, 2013

"

However, reports from ESPN and Shenhua's official website on the morning of Jan. 30, 2013 have thrown a wrench into a deal which was alrwady believed to be completed.

According to a statement from Shenhua, there will be no Turkish delight for Galatasaray as the Chinese Premier League club is threatening to take FIFA action against Drogba's supposed new team:

"

The club is deeply shocked. Drogba is still a Shanghai Shenhua Football Club member as the contract between the two parties is still within its period of validity.

The Shanghai Shenhua Football Club is ready to gather evidence and submit the findings to FIFA in order to protect its interests.

"

To further complicate the current situation for Shenhua, they have also lost their other former Chelsea man in Nicolas Anelka, who has joined Italian side Juventus on loan until the end of the current Serie A campaign as reported by the BBC.

Anelka's departure, along with the massive financial burden of Drogba's £200,000-a-week contract, gave the Ivorian's move extra validity when it was announced two days ago as it seemed Shenhua were prepared to let their high-profile forwards leave.

At the moment it would appear that Galatasaray have gotten themselves in a bit of a bind. Their official website announcement gave little information about the deal in any way other than it being a "one-and-a-half-year contract."

There are certain to be more developments to this growing story. Stay tuned with Bleacher Report for the latest news on the Drogba transfer saga.