Kakuta wants to return to France

Kakuta has made just one Premier League start for the Blues since his controversial move from Lens in 2007.

The 21-year-old has spent much of his time out on loan and has now decided that he wants to return to his homeland where he thinks he will have a better chance of playing regular first-team football.

He told L'Equipe: "It's better for me to leave the club and find one where I could play matches.

"This is an important moment of my career. I need to play."

Chelsea was banned from signing players for two transfer windows in 2009 after FIFA found the Blues guilty of inducing Kakuta to breach his contract.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport later cleared the London club of any wrong-doing, however.

Marseille is thought to be among a number of French clubs interested in Kakuta, and the forward admits he would be interested in moving to the Ligue 1 side despite the fact that it finished 10th last term.

"Marseille is a club that I like," he added.

"In France, Marseille, Lyon and Lille are the three clubs I like the most.

"Nothing is certain yet. First Marseille must first sell and then negotiate a reasonable salary."