Anelka working on Shanghai exit

The chances of Nicolas Anelka gracing the Premier League in January have increased with the news he is in talks to end his contract with Shanghai Shenhua.



Anelka made the move to the Chinese club last season, but he has struggled to adapt and is reportedly keen on a return to Europe.



Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp has suggested he would be interested if Anelka became available, while West Ham have also been linked.



And it could well result in a flood of offers being made when the window opens in January as Shenhua have confirmed club and player are talking about the French striker's exit.



"The discussion is between the club and himself, I don't know about the specific details," Shanghai spokesman Ma Yue said. "But so far we haven't got the final result."

Top 10 best buys

Premier League's best bargains, in pictures :-

Nicolas Anelka: £500,000

A great investment by Arsene Wenger who signed Anelka frm Paris St Germain in 1997. During his two seasons he helped the club to a league and cup double before joining Real Madrid for just under £23 million.



Demba Ba: free

A risk by Newcastle manager Alan Pardew given the state of the striker's knees but it's paid off enormously. He scored 16 goals in his first season on Tyneside.



Tim Cahill: £1.5m

Twice a bargain transfer. The first time when Everton signed him from Milwall for £1.5 million in 2004 and if the latest rumours prove true, the Australian is set to join the New York Red Bulls for just over a million.



Sol Campbell: free

He angered Tottenham fans when he joined Arsenal for nothing but it was another genius bit of negotiating from Wenger as Campbell was central to the club's success between 2001-06.



Eric Cantona: £1.2m

Probably Sir Alex Ferguson's best deal to date; The King cost the Scot just £1.2m when he signed from Leeds in 1992. He was well worth it and scored 64 goals in 143 appearances.



Ole Gunner Solskjaer: £1.5m

United's Baby Faced Assasin cost them just £1.5 million, a great investment for 10 years of outstanding service and crucial goals.



Robin van Persie: £2.75

A cut price for the striker who arrived from Feyenoord in 2004 and went on to score 96 goals in 194 appearances. Arsenal are set to cash in on the Dutchman who has recently annunced he intends to leave.



Joe Hart: £600,000

Manchester City and England's No 1 goalkeeper who cost next to nothing in 2006. he is now one of the club's top earners.



Shay Given: £1.5

Another bargain goalkeeper, Newcastle paid under two million for Shay Given in 1997 and were rewarded with 10 years of outstanding service.



Cesc Fabregas: free

Another great piece of negotiating from Wenger who is renowned for his unwillingness to spend big. A young Fabregas joined in 2003 as he feared getting not play time at Barcelona. Again Arsenal cashed in on their man and sold him back to the Catalan club last year for £30m.

Anelka targeting Drogba swoop

Shanghai Shenhua player-manager Nicolas Anelka is eyeing a swoop for Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.



The Frenchman moved to the Chinese club in January to take on a playing role but was recently promoted following the sacking of Jean Tigana.



And he has now admitted he hopes to raid his former club as well as attempting to bring in one of his countrymen from Portugal's Maritimo.



"I hope Selim Benachour and Didier Drogba will quickly join us," Anelka told Le Journal du Dimanche.



"I hope they come. It is up to the club to see if we have the right means."



As for his new job, Anelka has admitted that the influence of some of his own former managers convinced him to take the plunge into coaching, and noted that playing in the Premier League for much of his career has given him an English sensibility.



"I have been impressed by Carlo Ancelotti, Kevin Keegan, Arsene Wenger, Guus Hiddink, Christoph Daum and Sam Allardyce," he said.



"I have also looked at Alex Ferguson and Harry Redknapp. I have a very English philosophy of coaching."



The 33-year-old also conceded that he faced a difficult challenge in his first role as a manager, but says he was unaware of the specifics regarding his promotion.



"Jean Tigana? I don't know what happened with the coach, but it looked like an impasse," Anelka said.



"As usual I will take on, trying to seize that challenge, which is the greatest of my career. We start almost from scratch again.



"Florent Ibenge will take the daily training sessions. To assist us there will be Alioune Toure and Ian Walker for the keepers."