Drogba asks FIFA permission for loan move

Shanghai Shenhua attacker Didier Drogba has asked FIFA for permission to make a transfer outside the January transfer window in order to prepare for the African Cup of Nations.

The Chinese league season came to an end earlier this month, and Drogba has set his sights on a temporary move away from Shenhua to maintain his fitness until the AFCON kicks off on January 19, 2013, with world football's governing body considering the former Chelsea star's request.

"The FIFA administration services are looking into it,'' FIFA said in a statement.

Drogba has recently been linked with clubs such as Juventus and Chelsea, but he would be unable to move before January 1 under current FIFA regulations.

Cote d'Ivoire have been drawn alongside Tunisia, Algeria and Togo in Group D of the 2013 Afcon. It takes on Togo on January 22 in its first match of the tournament.