Report: Montreal Impact acquire rights to Didier Drogba

With owner Joey Saputo leading the charge, the Montreal Impact have come one step closer to adding Didier Drogba to the fold.

According to ESPN.com, the Impact acquired Drogba's Major League Soccer discovery rights from the Chicago Fire on Sunday for what the report calls a "substantial amount of targeted and regular allocation money well in excess of $100,000."

The Fire made a push to convince Drogba to sign with them, but it appears the longtime Chelsea star had his heart set on joining Montreal. His contract has not been finalized but it's believed the 37-year-old striker will sign an 18-month deal with the Impact worth more than $3 million per year.

Playing in French-speaking Montreal appeals greatly to Drogba, who hails from the Ivory Coast. He will be able to connect with a large portion of the Impact fan base and is known for his vibrant personality. It's a move that makes sense on the field as well, with Drogba showing he can still perform at a high-level by scoring seven goals in 38 mostly substitute appearances for the Premier League champions Chelsea last season.

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr