Chelsea officials are set to meet with Lyon before the end of the week to negotiate a deal for France midfielder Florent Malouda, BBC Sport understands.
Lyon want at least £13.5m for the player and released a statement on Thursday, stating: "At the moment, no offer at this level has been made."
But Malouda, 27, has previously said he wants to join Chelsea and left Lyon's pre-season training camp on Wednesday.
And his agent, Phillipe Flavier, said: "At this moment everybody is waiting."
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon is optimistic that a deal will be reached for Malouda.
I think Chelsea and Lyon will find an agreement
Malouda's agent Phillipe Flavier
Lyon are prepared to listen to offers for Malouda, who was a key member of the France squad that reached 2006 World Cup final.
"The club stay loyal to the promise made to the player and are therefore prepared to look at all offers that have been made," added the Les Gones statement.
Chelsea begin their pre-season preparations on 10 July in Los Angeles - and Malouda is keen to be a Blues player by then.
Flavier added: "I think the two clubs will find an agreement but I don't know when.
"The player hopes it will be as soon as possible."
If he does move to Chelsea, Malouda will link up again with Didier Drogba, with whom he enjoyed success at Guingamp in 2002-03, and Michael Essien.
Chelsea have signed Claudio Pizarro, Steve Sidwell and Tal Ben Haim so far this summer - all on free transfers.
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