Brealing news on SSN now.

Having his medical tomorrow and then no doubt it will be officially announced on Chelsea TV.

I know pretty much nothing about this guy.

Is this the end of Robben's Chelsea career or are we spending big bucks on a backup?

I hope this doesn't mean the end of Robben too... but like many others I know little about him so the two may have completely different styles and compliment each other.

Welcome Florent.

This deal must mean the end of either SWP's or Robben's Chelsea career.

In truth I wont be devastated if this does turn out to be the case. Robben is made of glass and hasn't recaptured his first season form when I thought he was going to be an absolute legend for us.

On his day he is frightening though, and for that reason I'd rather it be SWP that goes.

SWP has his moments but can be very infuriating, mostly the latter.

If it is indeed Robben that is off then we should recoup some of the money we've paid for Malouda. Real will likely stump up the cash.

I cant see us getting more than ?10m for SWP, apparently Spurs, Villa and West Ham are interested.

No! I do not want Robben to go because this guy arrives.

I didn't think they clashed and can both play or am I totally wrong?

I must admit I know very little about Malouda but I have a gut feeling he could do great things with us.

Kenyon said Robben is staying so I think we should accept that both will stay.

If it's a choice between SWP and Robben - difficult as Robben is very talented but is injured all the time and SWP is just infuriating more often than not.

Has to be SWP if one does have to go but personally I hope he stays too.

Well I have already gone on record saying that Malouda is not a player I was keen on us signing so I can't really backtrack now however now that he is a Blue (well he is minus the 'i' dotting and 't' crossing) here is hoping he proves me entirely wrong.

I must admit of all the signings we have made so far this summer the only one I am genuinely pleased about is Ben Haim.

In addition, and I can't say this enough times - I sincerely hope this doesn't mean the end of the line for either SWP or Robben. Robben because he is a better player than Malouda and SWP because he is a right winger, and the only one we have. Let SWP go and we will have three left wingers and no right one. Yes RObben and Joe can play on the right but they are not as effective there.

New player that most don't know much about. Cue a youtube compilation.

Nothing special there, looks like he likes to get into the box from the wings but no real sign of trial abockery and pace. I am quite neutral about his signing.

Well I have already gone on record saying that Malouda is not a player I was keen on us signing so I can't really backtrack now however now that he is a Blue (well he is minus the 'i' dotting and 't' crossing) here is hoping he proves me entirely wrong.

I must admit of all the signings we have made so far this summer the only one I am genuinely pleased about is Ben Haim.

In addition, and I can't say this enough times - I sincerely hope this doesn't mean the end of the line for either SWP or Robben. Robben because he is a better player than Malouda and SWP because he is a right winger, and the only one we have. Let SWP go and we will have three left wingers and no right one. Yes RObben and Joe can play on the right but they are not as effective there.

I'm pretty confident that SWP and Robben will stay, but like you i'm unsure of the role Malouda will play. I've rang my mate in the south of France, he isn't over impressed by the bloke but is of the opinion he and Drogba are on a par Dixon/Speedie and Nevin like in their link up play and he tends to score his goals and act at times like an old fashioned inside forward.

I've got a hunch the player that might just surprise everyone is Pizzaro. I've recorded all Chile's Copa America games on sky plus and his movement is pretty impressive, not to mention two cracking headers and an all round man of the match performance in one game.

With the Alves deal falling through it's a make or break season for young Glen Johnson, but I hope and pray Jose doesn't lose faith with both our full backs and plays Essien at right back - we need the geezer settled in midfield for sure.

I fear for Sidwell, it's a carbon copy signing of Scott Parker for me. I like Alex, though raw, I can see his potential. Agreed Ben Haim is our best if not most important signing, if only we had coughed up when Jose really wanted him!

Boula will be off next week and good riddance. To be honest though the G****s / Cole fiasco forced us into a knee jerk signing and Ronaldihno at the Bridge apart, he looked what he looked like in the World Cup a pretty average defender.

I'm more hopeful of us winning the League this year than last but I cannot see our signings improving our Champions League chances.

Hand on heart i'd say Manure are slight favourites to pip us for the title but JT's desire to regain it might just swing it in our favour at the business end of the season.

I guess we can only measure the value and indeed credentials of our new signings when the Africans return from the nations cup. If we slump while they are away it will not take much working out who will be to blame and i'm not talking the players in question.

i guess the YouTube clip teaches us that if our new man is wide open in front of goal, about 8 yards from net, and the ball is played right to his foot, he'll score just about every time.

perhaps a better indicator of his talent -- i played FIFA World Cup 06 on X-Box for about 2 straight months last summer. almost cost me my marriage. anyway, Malouda was an awesome player. probably one of the fastest players in the game, matched only by Ronaldinho and Ronaldo. maybe Cisse (but I didn't play Cisse much, because I thought it would have given France an unfair advantage, what with him having a broken leg in real life and all). i really enjoyed playing him on the ball. so maybe if Jose is a gamer, he'll know how to use Florent.

Allez Flourent!

Dixon/Speddie ooh yeah baby!!

Dixon and Speedie they will never be - Drogba and Malouda apparently like each other, not something that could be said for Dixon and Speedie!

I cannot believe some people haven't heard of him. If not the French league then Germany '06.

Did you people not watch the World Cup last year? I think he was one of the best players of the Cup.

Very happy with the signing. I hope Robben stays, but I doubt we'll be able to keep them both.

I've got a hunch the player that might just surprise everyone is Pizzaro. I've recorded all Chile's Copa America games on sky plus and his movement is pretty impressive, not to mention two cracking headers and an all round man of the match performance in one game.

I fear for Sidwell, it's a carbon copy signing of Scott Parker for me. I like Alex, though raw, I can see his potential. Agreed Ben Haim is our best if not most important signing, if only we had coughed up when Jose really wanted him!

Bold part one...that excites me

bold part 2, I fear you just may be right!

I've recorded all Chile's Copa America games on sky plus

Slight problem mate- Pizarro plays for Peru.

Drogba lobbying helped me join Chelsea, says Malouda

LYON, France, July 9 (Reuters) - France midfielder Florent Malouda, who is due to become a Chelsea player on Monday, says former team mate Didier Drogba used his influence to persuade the London club to buy him.

Malouda, whose Olympique Lyon club said on Sunday they had reached a deal with Chelsea, and Ivory Coast striker Drogba once played together for French side Guingamp before moving on to more prestigious clubs.

"Didier pushed a bit, a lot even," Malouda told Monday's issue of French sports daily L'Equipe. "But then, at Chelsea, that's not enough to recruit a player."

Apparently upset that the talks were dragging on, Malouda left Lyon's training camp in the French Alps last week.

"The (Lyon) president had told me he would let me go and I knew he would be true to his word but the problem was the time it took," Malouda said. "He (Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas) is a tough businessman but everybody knew I would leave."

A left-footed attacking midfielder, Malouda, who is both technically gifted and physically strong, said he was a Chelsea fan.

"They were my number one choice for many reasons," he said. "I saw several matches there as a spectator and I always enjoyed it very much. There was also the coach, who really wanted to have me, and life in London, because I want my family to feel at ease.

"The most important thing was I felt they really wanted me. I also feel the kind of football they play suits me quite well."

Malouda, who had joined Lyon for 6.5m euros in 2003, should move to Chelsea for a transfer fee of around 20m euros, a Lyon source said.

The 27-year-old has won four French titles with Lyon and was voted best Ligue 1 player last season. A member of the France squad who reached last year's World Cup final, he has played 30 internationals, scoring three goals.

Real Madrid had also expressed an interest in a player regarded as one of the finest France has to offer.

Drogba lobbying helped me join Chelsea, says Malouda

So if he's a flop then let's all blame Drogs

I've recorded all Chile's Copa America games on sky plus

Slight problem mate- Pizarro plays for Peru.

What a nice education.........

(No offense mate)

P.S. Sorry for off-topic! (Is it?)

Does this mean we go back to 4-3-3. If yes hes welcome.

If we dont go back to 4-3-3, where could he be used ?

[web]http://www.chelseafc.com/page/NewsHomePage/0,,10268~1070324,00.html[/web]

Deal finished.

A decent addition to the squad. Can't wait to see him team up with Essien and Drogs again.

Excellent article on the new boy;

[web]http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/07/10/mature_malouda_can_remedy_mour.html[/web]

Interesting to read that at Lyon, he had the intelligence, and ability to alternate with Left Back Eric Abidal.

We could now see a far more fluid left side at Chelsea.

Malouda and Cole overlapping each other could be very effective, and might just bring the best out of Cashley in contrast to the poor season that he has just had.

On another note, the point that the Journo has touched on regarding Robben is spot on. I think the fragile Dutchman will stay with us, but it's the lack of 'mental toughness' that bothers Jose. Malouda is made of sterner stuff.

Look at the others; Terry, Cech, Carvalho, Ferreira, Essien, Ballack, Lamps, Drogba - They all fight for the cause.

Malouda and Cole overlapping each other could be very effective

Have we learned nothing from last season? Bridge must start at left back!

All in favour say, 'aye!'.

Malouda and Cole overlapping each other could be very effective

Have we learned nothing from last season? Bridge must start at left back!

All in favour say, 'aye!'.

I agree Brian, however Mr Mourinho still needs some convincing.

Excellent article on the new boy.

Agree - makes him sound like a fit for Mourinho's vision of the game. Have a lot more hope for this signing now, viva Malouda!