London: Lyon manager Hubert Fournier on Friday claimed France forward Alexandre Lacazette will remain at his club this season despite interest from Europe’s superpowers.
Lacazette has been attracting attention from a host of top teams, with recent reports suggesting Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester United were ready to make offers for the £30 million (Dh171m)-rated star.
Another club reportedly showing an interest is Arsenal, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger able to take a closer look at the 24-year-old when his team face Lyon in the Emirates Cup pre-season tournament on Saturday.
But, speaking ahead of the match, Fournier insisted Lacazette is happy at the Stade de Gerland and will be an important part of a Lyon squad looking for success in all competitions having finished second to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 last year.
When asked where he saw Lacazette playing this season, Fournier said: “Olympique Lyonnais. I haven’t got much to say. He has said he wants to stay with us.
“Of course some clubs are going to be attracted to the sort of player he is, but he is under contract at Lyon and with all of the different competitions we have this season with the Champions League and the domestic French cups, we obviously want to keep him at the club.”
Meanwhile, former Real Madrid and French international midfielder Lassana Diarra signed for Marseille on Friday, ending a year-long spell out of the game.
The 30-year-old, who won 28 caps in his career, has been without a club since leaving Lokomotiv Moscow last season.
Diarra made his name playing in England with Chelsea, Portsmouth and Arsenal before spending four years at Real Madrid from 2008 until 2012.
