Chelsea are facing up to the prospect of losing Salomon Kalou on a free transfer next summer after he intimated that his future may well lie away from Stamford Bridge.

The 24-year-old has less than 12 months remaining on his current deal after signing from Feyenoord in 2006 and would be able to walk away from the club for nothing when his contract expires on July 1st, 2010.

The Ivory Coast international is understandably frustrated at the lack of first-team football currently available to him under new boss Carlo Ancelotti and admits he is considering his options.

"We have to wait and see what happens," Kalou told skysports.com.

"I am relaxed. My contract this season is important as I need to be playing football and play well for my country.

"Having teams interested in me shows I am doing well, so let's wait and see."

As ExtraFootie revealed on Sunday, Kalou is certainly not short of admirers with Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho and Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger both understood to be monitoring his situation with great interest.

Indeed, Kalou himself admitted recently that he enjoys the Gunners' unique brand of attacking football and hinted that he would welcome a move to the Emirates Stadium should a move be forthcoming.

Losing Kalou on a free transfer would be a huge blow to the Blues especially as they have a FIFA-imposed transfer embargo until January 2011 hanging over their heads which would deny them the opportunity to sign a replacement.

Chelsea remain hopeful of convincing Kalou to join a plethora of stars who have committed their futures to the club in recent weeks, including John Terry amnd Didier Drogba, and are said to be willing to double his current £30,000-a-week wage.