Florent Malouda is expected to sign for Chelsea today after leaving Lyon's preseason training camp.

France's player of the year was driven away by a Lyon staff member from the Alpine ski resort of Tignes where Lyon are preparing for their bid to win a seventh consecutive Ligue 1 title.

Reports in the French press suggest Chelsea have lodged an 18.5million euros bid (£12.5million) for the 27-year-old, who was a member of France's World Cup final team last summer.

Last week, Malouda revealed he wanted to join Chelsea.