Montreal Impact are "willing to accommodate" Didier Drogba's desire to help his former club Chelsea but expect the striker to return to Major League Soccer action next year.
The 37-year-old Ivorian joined the Impact in July, at the end of his second spell with the Blues, and he has been successful in Canada with a haul of 11 goals from 11 appearances.
The 2016 MLS season begins in March but Chelsea are currently talking to Montreal with a view to securing Drogba's services in a possible coaching role under interim boss Guus Hiddink, who replaced Jose Mourinho last week.
The club tweeted: "We are currently in contact with Didier Drogba and Chelsea FC. We are doing everything we can to have him back with the Impact in 2016.
"We understand his attachment to his former club and his desire to help them. We are willing to accommodate him.
"But our objective is to have him back for another season, as agreed in his contract. This situation is out of our control.
"We would like to thank our supporters for their understanding and their patience."
We are currently in contact with Didier Drogba and Chelsea FC. We are doing everything we can to have him back with the Impact in 2016.#IMFC
- Impact de Montréal (@impactmontreal) December 23, 2015
Hiddink on Wednesday refused to be drawn on whether Drogba, who scored 104 Premier League goals for the London club, would join his backroom staff.
"I worked with him five or six years ago and I was delighted to have such a professional in the squad," the Dutchman said.
"He's a legend already in this club. The only thing is at the moment is that he's playing in Montreal.
"The official process I don't know but I spoke openly from the bottom of my heart that huge impact players can be key for the club.
"Other people have to deal with that, not me."
He added: "All the big clubs, and the smaller ones, have these specific guys, figures, who can go into whatever they like -- coach, ambassador, manager -- but they must be given the opportunity to do so.
"They give the Chelsea brand a big image, worldwide."