France midfielder Florent Malouda left the Lyon pre-season training camp today as rumours of a move to Chelsea gather pace.

French newspaper reports this morning suggest Chelsea have lodged an €18.5million for the 27-year-old, who was a member of France's World Cup final team last summer.

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.

Last week Malouda said he wanted to join Chelsea