NICE ONE CYRIL FOR BASTIA

CYRIL DOMORAUD has snubbed offers from England to join Le Championnat pacesetters Bastia, although his move back to France has been delayed.

The Inter defender was to join the club from the Armand Cesari Furiani on a year`s loan but Inter coach Marcello Lippi does not want to release the player until after the Olympic Games.

Lippi is concerned at the number of players participating in Sydney so he has decided that Domoraud cannot return to France until the beginning of October.

The former Marseille man had talks with Bastia in August with Spanish front-runners Celta Vigo also declaring an interest in his services during the summer months.

When those deals initially collapsed, it was strongly touted that the 29-year-old would head for The Premiership, with Everton amongst the clubs linked with a move for the classy utility defender, who was born in the Ivory Coast.

However, Bastia, buoyed by their impressive start to the campaign, have got their man - even though he will not be available for selection until next month.

Click here for the Everton link with Domoraud