Kalou in talks with Chelsea
Saturday, 27 May 2006 16:36
Chelsea are holding talks with the young Ivory Coast striker Salomon Kalou who plays his club football for Feyenoord.
The Dutch club have confirmed that the 20-year-old has begun negotiations over a move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are looking for some fresh blood up front with Hernan Crespo and Didier Drogba desperate to leave and Carlton Cole likely to be moved on this summer.
Kalou has spent the past few months attempting to become Dutch as he decided that he did not want to play for his country of birth Ivory Coast - even though his big brother Bonaventure Kalou captains the country.
Kalou's application to be fast-tracked to Dutch nationality was turned down by immigration minister Rita Verdonk, despite the support of Holland coach Marco van Basten.
Feyenoord marketing director Chris Woerts said: "We have given Salomon an authorisation to talk with Chelsea.
"We've been in talks with this club for some time over Kalou. It's going in the right direction but he hasn't reached an agreement yet."
The pacy striker scored 15 times in 35 matches for Feyenoord last season and has now decided the time is right to leave the country which will not accept him as a citizen.
