France [ Images ] midfielder Florent Malouda [ Images ], who is due to become a Chelsea [ Images ] player on Monday, says former team mate Didier Drogba [ Images ] used his influence to persuade the London [ Images ] club to buy him.

Malouda, whose Olympique Lyon [ Images ] 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 is 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 [ Images ] had also expressed an interest in a player regarded as one of the finest France has to offer.