Benched: Salomon
Kalou (centre) has rarely featured for Chelsea this
season
Arsenal and Liverpool will fight it out to sign
Chelsea’s Salomon Kalou in January.
The 26-year-old Ivory Coast striker is in the
last year of his contract and has slipped down the pecking order at
Stamford Bridge.
That could force Chelsea to sell him in the
transfer window rather than lose him for nothing next
summer.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been a long-term
admirer and reportedly ready to test the water with a £6million
bid.
But he faces competition from Kenny Dalglish’s
Liverpool, who are also monitoring the player's
situation.
Wenger may prove to the the key to Kalou's future
however as the player previously admitted that he would love to
play for the Frenchman.
'Arsene Wenger said he thought of signing me?
That's an honour for me,' he said in 2009.
'Because he is a very great coach and I know that
every single player in the world dreams of playing for Arsene
Wenger.
In demand: Kalou could leave Chelsea
'I have a lot of respect for him, he is one of
the best coaches in the world so why not?'
Wenger tried to buy Kalou from Feyenoord in 2006
but lost out to Chelsea when they paid the Dutch club
£9m.
Kalou featured in the opening two Premier League
games of the season, played against Fulham in the Carling Cup and
came on as late substitute in the 1-1 draw with Valencia in the
Champions League but conceded a late penalty for handball that
earned the Spaniards a point.
Talks over extending his contract were put on
hold leading to speculation he was likely to leave once his deal
expired.
Several clubs could take advantage of the
stand-off and secure him on a pre-contractual agreement in January.
But the striker, who can also play in central midfield and on the
wing, is thought to favour remaining in England.