Football in Brief: Hughes signs Johnson and Nelsen; Drogba poised for China move; Clarke looks to 'Special One

Hughes signs Johnson and Nelsen

QPR yesterday announced the signings of the striker Andrew Johnson, from Fulham, and the Tottenham Hotspur defender Ryan Nelsen. Both are free transfers.

The 31-year-old Johnson said: "I have worked closely with [QPR manager] Mark Hughes before and there are players here that I have played with previously.

"Those were factors in me joining, but this is a big, big club. Mark told me about the plans for a new training ground and how the club wants to go forward. That really excited me."

Johnson played for Hughes at Fulham and Nelsen, 34, who is due to play for New Zealand at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, played for the Welshman at Blackburn.

Nelsen said: "I like [Hughes's] winning attitude. He and all his staff just have an absolute desire to win, and that's what the Premier League is all about. If you haven't got that, you won't be successful.

"The owners have got fantastic ambition and it's exciting to become a part of that. There is a real buzz about the place and it is a privilege to be here."

Drogba poised for China move

Didier Drogba is expected to sign for the Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua within the next few days, according to reports in the Far East. The Ivorian striker is set to sign a two-and-a-half-year contract worth around £9.7m a year.

Shanghai have used four managers in 13 games this season. Their other big signing from Chelsea, Nicolas Anelka, has struggled. Andrew Crawford

Clarke looks to 'Special One'

Steve Clarke will turn to Jose Mourinho for advice if anything goes wrong in his first managerial assignment.

"I got a text off Jose congratulating me," said Clarke, who worked with the Real Madrid manager at Chelsea and coached for 14 years before taking the West Bromwich job. "If I ever needed him I could pick up the phone and ask for advice."