Transfer news: West Ham target Salomon Kalou could be heading back to London as Hammers identify need for strikers

Reports in France claim West Ham have made a £3m bid for Kalou after he left Chelsea last year to join Lille

Salomon Kalou could be heading to West Ham from his current club Lille (GETTY IMAGES)

Salomon Kalou could be on his way back to England after West Ham made an offer for the former Chelsea forward.

Reports in French newspaper L’Equipe suggest West Ham have made a bid worth €3.5m (£3m) to bring the Ivorian back to London, after he joining French club Lille last summer on a free transfer.

Having appeared predominantly on the wing during his time with Chelsea, Kalou made 28 league appearances last season, scoring 14 goals as well as representing the Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations.

West Ham are short on strikers despite the £15m signing of Andy Carroll from Liverpool, with the England striker having spent last season on-loan with the Hammers. They saw Marouane Chamakh return to Arsenal, Wellington Paulista return to Cruzeiro and released Carlton Cole on a free, meaning Modibo Maiga is the only other striker currently on their books.

Whether Kalou would want to leave Lille is a different matter though, having spent just one season there in which he has settled well, going on to have an impressive second half of the season.

Lille manager Rene Giraud expects to have Kalou once the season is underway, although L’Equipe suggest that any sale of Kalou could fund the signings of a new defender and attacker.