French champions facing midfield exodus

LE CHAMPIONNAT holders Lyon are facing the possibility of losing two of their midfielders from Stade Gerland during the close season.

Cameroon World Cup star Marc-Vivien Foe is being linked with a return to The Premiership with Middlesbrough and newcomers Manchester City, while David Linares (pictured) has yet to agree to a contract extension with Les Lyonnais.

Linares's agent met Lyon's player transfer director Jacques Santini on Tuesday but the 26-year-old is keen to move away from the French champions.

Linares said: "My priority is not obviously to stay in Lyon."

Despite being at Stade Gerland for several seasons, the defensive midfielder has seen little first-team action and the club are looking for a strong and powerful defensive midfielder, with Lyon targeting Paris Saint Germain's Edouard Cisse.

Cisse has also been a target for a move abroad but he may remain in France and a move to Stade Gerland could prove beneficial.

PSG boss Luis Fernandez left him out of his side last season and Cisse knows Lyon coach Paul Le Guen well, when both men were at Rennes four years ago.

Should Cisse move next season, Fernandez may target Rennes midfielder Christophe Le Roux to join the Parc des Princes outfit, after going out-of-contract at the end of the season.