Lille are closing on signing former Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou.

 

According to French sports daily L’Equipe, Kalou is due in northern France today to undergo medical tests and then sign an already agreed four-year contract.

 

Kalou’s negotiations have been handled by his brother, the former Auxerre player, Bonaventure, who has arranged for Salomon to receive a significant signing-on fee.

 

For Lille, the signing of the 26-year-old is a big coup, especially as the Ligue 1 outfit believed it was difficult to compete with a number of English Premier League sides who wanted the Ivorian.

 

Indeed, Rudi Garcia’s club can feel delighted, as Liverpool, Fulham and Newcastle United all held an interest in snapping up Kalou.

 

Kalou was released by Champions League winners Chelsea at the end of last month.

 

The striker rarely featured in last season’s Premier League, managing to clock up just 12 appearances and score only one goal.

 

He joined Chelsea from Dutch side Feyenoord in 2006 for a fee of around £9M.

 

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