Kalou set to decide on Chelsea future in the next week

May 23, 2012 2:48:00 PM

The Ivory Coast forward will hold fresh talks imminently with senior Stamford Bridge officials as he weighs up around a dozen offers from both England and the continent

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey

Salomon Kalou is set to decide whether to stay at Chelsea in the next week, Goal.com has learned.

The Ivory Coast forward will sit down imminently with senior club officials for fresh contract talks and will then make a decision on whether to sign a new deal or follow Didier Drogba out of the exit door.

As Goal.com revealed last month, Kalou has attracted interest from a dozen leading clubs in England and on the continent, including Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham, while his Chelsea future remains up in the air.

It is understood that the attacker wants to stay in the Premier League but his contract talks are also being closely monitored by clubs from Italy, Spain, Netherlands and Turkey.

The 26-year-old can leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer this summer as his current contract expires at the end of June.

Kalou has been publicly coy about his future but he is leaning more towards staying at the club which he joined in 2006 after being given a new lease of life under Roberto Di Matteo.

During Andre Villas-Boas' reign, he was frozen out, making only four starts in seven months. But the forward was a regular starter as Chelsea finished the season in sensational style, playing full parts in the Champions League and FA Cup triumphs.

"I enjoy being here," Kalou said last month. "There is no reason why I don’t want to stay. Robbie has come in and given me the chance to play more and I’m very happy with that. I never think there is no way I shouldn’t have a future at the club."

The 26-year-old’s plans will depend on the terms of the deal that are offered to him and his agent, Jan de Visser.

He rejected a new contract last September that was believed to be on the same £80,000-a-week terms as his current agreement.

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