Antoine Sibierski, the sporting director of Lens, confirmed that he would not renew a contract with the French side due to the interest from Chelsea.

Sibierski told his club's official website: "It should be official tomorrow. (When I arrived) there was no intention of letting him go and I met him very quickly after my arrival to show my confidence in him.

"He still had one year left and it was proposed he extended it but he told me eye to eye that did not interest him and he wanted to leave Lens.

"I realized 48 hours later why, when I learned Chelsea wanted him. I understand."