Ex-Chelsea forward will only consider be played as a striker next season.
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West Bromwich Albion are now in pole position to land Lille front man Salomon Kalou after the Ivorian turned down the chance to move to West Ham United this summer, according to reports in the Daily Mirror.
The Ivory Coast international is understood to be keen on making an immediate return to the Premier League next season, just a year after the 27-year-old was released by Chelsea on a free transfer.
Kalou spent a highly successful campaign in Ligue 1 last season, with the forward registering 16 goals and six assists in his 37 matches overall in all competitions for Lille, including 14 goals and five assists in his 28 league outings for the French outfit.
However, despite both Premier League sides agreeing a fee of £4 million with Lille for Kalou, who has a contract in Northern France that runs until 2016, the player is desperate to be utilised next season in his more favoured role up front, rather than out on the wing.
And with Hammers head coach Sam Allardyce unable to provide Kalou with such assurances following the east London club’s recent capture of giant centre-forward Andy Carroll from Liverpool, the attacker looks like making the move to the Hawthorns now instead.