Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka could be sold by Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua over a shareholder row.
China Daily reports Shanghai's chairman Zhu Jun, who holds a 28.5% stake, is refusing to pay his share of the club's daily costs unless his demands for greater control are met.
And that could alert a number of European clubs who were keen on signing Drogba before he confirmed he would move to Asia.
Drogba and Anelka both moved to Shanghai this year
The Ivory Coast international departed Chelsea a legend after he scored the equaliser and hit the winning penalty in the shootout against Bayern Munich in May's Champions League final.
In addition to his Bavarian heroics, Drogba scored in four FA Cup finals - scoring the winner on three occasions - and also struck in two League Cup finals for the club - netting the winner against Arsenal in 2007.
He and Anelka both earn in excess of £190,000 a week in the Far East and the transfer deadline for European clubs ends Friday.