Chelsea Set To Beat Liverpool & Arsenal For Lyon’s Malouda – The Blues Midfielder Lassana Diarra On Loan To Lyon

Chelsea are reportedly set to beat Liverpool and Arsenal for Lyon winger Florent Malouda in a move that is likely to see Lassana Diarra move in the opposite direction.

According to French radio station RMC reports, the Blues have stolen a march on a host of suitors for the 27-year-old France international, and are set to welcome their fourth summer signing. The Blues have so far signed Steve Sidwell, Tal Ben Haim and Claudio Pizarro.

The Reds, who had been persistently linked with Malouda, had recently been cooling their interest in the Frenchman owing to his price tag of 17million pounds. Boss Rafa Benitez was subsequently linked with other target Simao Sabrosa of Benfica rated at £11million.

It seems that the Blues are set to clinch the deal in their favour with a reported loan deal for 22-year-old France midfielder Diarra, who was being hailed as a new Claude Makelele.

If Diarra proceeds to France on loan, then the Blues will surely keep hold of Makelele, who is embroiled in transfer speculations with Portsmouth, PSG and Villarreal known to be interested.