France forward Steve Marlet will know by Monday evening whether he is to see out the rest of the season with Lyon or make the move to Fulham, according to his agent.
The 27-year-old has been lured by what he considers a once-in-a-lifetime offer, and the combination of big bucks and a chance to join up with French coach Jean Tigana has left the former Auxerre winger champing at the bit.
Lyon, though, are holding out. Head coach Jacques Santini, already by the club’s transfer market activity this summer, has publicly pleaded with Lyon officials to keep Marlet, who is under contract until 2004. The French international and his agent, Pascal Boisseau, held prolonged talks with Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas and general manager Bernard Lacombe on Sunday.
French press reports suggest that Marlet disclosed that Fulham’s offer – reportedly £50,000 a week – was too good to turn down, even if Lyon are in the Champions’ League this season and the World Cup is less than a year away.
Boisseau told Le Monde:
“If, when he boards a plane for Chile at 8.25pm, he hasn’t signed for Fulham, he’ll stay with Lyon.”
