Chelsea's Senegalese striker Demba Ba is set to sign a deal to join top Istanbul team Besiktas, the Turkish side announced on Wednesday.

"Besiktas has begun talks with Chelsea for the transfer of Demba Ba," the club said in a statement.

Besiktas hosted Ba, 29, in Istanbul on Wednesday and he underwent a medical, the club added, posting pictures of the new acquisition posing in a Besiktas strip.

Previous reports suggested Beskitas would be acquiring Ba on loan but it was not immediately clear what form the final deal would take.

"He is a very strong striker for Besiktas," the club quoted its president Fikret Orman as saying.

He added: "It is easy to make the transfer, what is hard is to pay the sum, it needs to be in line with out budget."

Ba was quoted as saying: "It was a warm welcome and this warm relationship is going to continue."

Under Croatian manager Slaven Bilic, Besiktas will be looking in the coming season to improve on last year's third place in the Super Lig behind Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.

The team also has a place in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League.