Kalou joins Lens

Kalou, 29, had been subject to speculation that he may join Portsmouth or Toulouse but has made the move north despite a reported wage cut of around 20 percent.

The former Feyenoord player and current Ivory Coast international is expected to undergo a medical and put pen to paper on a three year deal later in the day.

Lens boss Guy Roux is understood to be keen on Kalou withdrawing from Ivory Coast's 2008 African Nations squad as he will lose fellow Ivorians Kanga Akale and Aruna Dindance for around a month too.