Didier Drogba believes that Lukaku has the same potential to become a great striker like him and hence has recommended him to sign for Chelsea. Lukaku, 17, burst onto the scene last season and was top scorer in the Jupiler Pro League with 15 goals in 25 appearances. His potential was also confirmed after he grabbed a brace in the 3-1 Europa League victory against Ajax.

A switch to the Stamford Bridge outfit has been mooted for several years, though they can expect to face competition from AC Milan, Real Madrid and Arsenal. Speaking to Sport/Voetbal Magazine, Belgian FA spokesman Nicolas Cornu divulged a conversation he had with Drogba about Lukaku.

"Yes, I've even called him," Didier Drogba is reported to have said.

"I got his phone number from Vincent Kompany.

"I told him - you have to sign for Chelsea."

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba plans to live up to his reputation as the man for the big occasion by out-gunning his rivals for the World Cup golden boot.

Now the 32-year-old striker believes he is capable of emulating those heroics with his country in South Africa.

Sven Goran Eriksson's side have been drawn in a group which would make less confident players quake in their boots as they prepare to face five-time world champion Brazil and a serious title contender like Portugal.

But Drogba will lead the Ivory Coast into battle brimming with confidence after the best season of his life. Drogba is sure to be heading the tournament's scoring charts.

"I really hope so. If we can get through the group stages, I think we have a very strong chance," Drogba said.

"It's important that we do well as a nation, but if I can win the World Cup Golden Boot as well, then it would be amazing."

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Chelsea striker Didier Drogba believes home advantage could be crucial as the Blues look to win their first Premier League title since 2006.

Carlo Ancelotti's side are currently one point ahead of Manchester United with three games left, the first of which is against 11th placed Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The sports betting markets have made Chelsea firm favourites to win the Premier League.

"We have done well at home," Drogba told the club's official website. "You never know what can happen, games are difficult now. Some teams are trying to save lives but some teams are playing for little and can enjoy themselves, and sometimes then you play better. It is going to be difficult - but it is up to us."

Drogba, the club's top scorer after a stellar individual campaign, believes that the crowd can have a big part to play in willing their team to victory, and has called upon them to deliver the atmosphere that has helped on big occasions in the past.

"We need the fans to be really behind us, to be even better than against Bolton [where they won 1-0] in the last game," he said.

Didier Drogba is confident he can break Bobby Tambling's record tally of 202 goals for Chelsea.

The 31-year-old currently has 102 goals for the Blues leaving him ninth in the overall goalscoring standings.

If the Ivory Coast international continues at the same rate as he has since signing for the club in summer 2004 then the former Marseille man will be 36 by the time he breaks the record.

The striker already has a new contract keeping him at Stamford Bridge until 2012 and the player believes, if he can stay injury free, the 39-year-old record is within his grasp.

"I feel young even if I am 31," he told partybets.com. "I want to run and I am not tired so I will do everything to score 200 goals for Chelsea.

"If I am in good health and don't have any injuries I can do it and if I do it, I also want some trophies around me and around the team, the Champions League especially and the Premier League.

"It is important for me and the club."

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has admitted his winning goal against Hull was intended as a cross, but believes getting the win was all that matter.

Drogba scored twice after Stephen Hunt's early strike had given Hull City the lead in opening fixture of the Premier League.

The Ivory Coast international snatched all three points for the resilient Blues with a stroke of fortune in the dying minutes of the game.

After dribbling to the byline Drogba lofted a ball towards the back post which looped over goalkeeper Boaz Myhill and into the net.

Drogba told Chelsea's official website, "To be honest it was a cross for Salomon Kalou, but the intention was there and I had so many chances that I think it was a gift.

"You have to create your own luck, and although I wanted to cross for Salomon, the ball went into the goal, so I was lucky and it is always good to win the first game.

"We had a difficult second half because we could have scored a lot of goals but we were unlucky. I could have scored two or three goals before the last one, but we won and that's the most important thing."

The 31-year-old secured an opening day win with his late strike and he praised the spirit of the squad to respond so well to falling behind.

"They came here last year and created a lot of problems," he added. "So we knew it was going to be difficult, especially when they scored, but the spirit we showed today was good."

Didier Drogba pulled Carlo Ancelotti out of the sticky stuff to extend the longest opening day winning streak in Premier League history - and revealed the debt he owed to Cristiano Ronaldo.

While Drogba was the first to admit his injury-time match-winner that left Ancelotti gasping for a fag and Phil Brown spewing was a fluke, the African ace had already scored one of the goals of the season.

Drogba’s stunning first half free-kick to draw Ancelotti’s Blues level after a solar plexus blow from Stamford Bridge hate-figure Stephen Hunt was a replica of the Ronaldo stunner against Portsmouth two seasons ago.

And the Chelsea hit-man conceded he had been more than happy to steal from the Portuguese star’s bag of tricks.

Drogba said: “I guess it was a bit like the one Ronaldo scored and it was deliberate. I tried to do it like that and lined it up to hit the valve.

“Everybody is aware of this technique now after Ronaldo and it’s true that when you hit the valve the ball comes down more.

“But it is just technique - and I think his free-kick was bit better than mine."

Speaking to The Guardian, Didier Drogba has voiced his belief that Chelsea may benefit from their quiet summer on the transfer front.

Thus far, the Blues have added only Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow (€21 million), Ross Turnbull and Daniel Sturridge (free transfers) to their senior squad.

And while Drogba has acknowledged that such an understated approach to the summer market is most uncharacteristic for Chelsea, he reckons that the team will be more stable for the lack of changes.

"It is a bit strange [that Chelsea have not signed more new players] and people will say it could be a weakness because opposing teams will know the weaknesses of our current squad, but it can also be a strength," said the striker.

"We know our own qualities and we know what we can do as a team, and we can try and reduce the mistakes we make. The fact that we have all known each other for such a long time is very interesting."

In recent times, critics have pointed to the Pensioners' high average age as a matter that needs to be addressed, but Drogba has assured that the club's elder statesmen are still as hungry as ever.

"There is no danger of us older players becoming lazy. I have only been playing at a high level since I was 25 so, in my head, I still feel young," he said.

"I don't know how long I can continue playing but, for me, the most important thing is to enjoy being on the pitch.

"I have a lot of friends in France at the moment who are without a team, without contracts, so I know how lucky I am to be here, and I want to enjoy it."

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is expected to sign a two-year contract extension at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday afternoon.

The Blues star has been linked with a move away from West London for a number of years as a reunion with Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan has been suggested as a possible outcome.

Drogba, though, has always maintained that he is committed to Chelsea and has previously insisted that he will stay with the Premier League giants at least until his current deal expires in 2010.

The 31-year-old is now set to further his career in England by penning an extension which will keep him with the Blues until 2012, which could be approaching the time he considers retirement.

Drogba told skysports.com: "I like Chelsea. I have spent good times here and I am part of this great club.

"There have been some difficult times, but it is great to play for a team with quality players."

Drogba fell out of the plans of former boss Luis Felipe Scolari, but was a rejuvenated force at the end of last season under Guus Hiddink, and he is set to feature in the thoughts of new manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Didier Drogba is happy to continue his "love affair" with Chelsea after signing a new three-year contract - but admits he came close to leaving the club at one point during a period of "frustration".

The Ivory Coast international pledged his future to the club recently and has committed himself until 2012, extending his existing deal by two years.

"Of course I had been saying things years ago like I wanted to leave but people can always change their mind," he told Chelsea TV. "That was a decision because I was a bit frustrated but when you have a love affair with your team, you can be upset but always come back to it because this is my team."

The 31-year-old endured mixed fortunes last season but scored during the club's FA Cup final win against Everton and finished the season with 14 goals.

But he added: "I've been here five years now and I love it here. It's simple."