French under-21 international Steed Malbranque has disclosed that Fulham have offered Lyon £4.5m to bring him to the Premiership.
Jean Tigana is keen to sign the talented attacking midfielder, whom his assistant Christian Damiano worked with at Clarefontaine, but Lyon would like to retain one of France’s top young prodigies. Malbranque, who made his senior debut for Lyon in 1998 aged eighteen, has made 110 appearances, scoring ten goals, for the club and helped them win the Coupe de la Ligue last season.
Malbranque, who turned down the chance to join Arsenal after starring for Lyon against both the Gunners and Bayern Munich in the Champions’ League two years ago, has become frustrated after losing his place in the first team and told the One Football website that he is seriously considering a switch to Craven Cottage under French legend Tigana.
“My wish is to play and if possible at Lyon. If that’s not possible I want to go elsewhere and the offer from Fulham leads me in this direction. That’s why I want to meet (club chairman Jean Michel Aulas) Aulas rapidly and I have a clause in my contract which says I can leave for £4.5 million.”
“My wish is to play and if possible at Lyon,” Malbranque told onefootball.com.If that’s not possible I want to go elsewhere and the offer from Fulham leads me in this direction.That’s why I want to meet (club chairman Jean Michel Aulas) Aulas rapidly and I have a clause in my contract which says I can leave for £4.5 million.”
