NANTES LINKED WITH YEPES BID

NANTES are being linked with a move for River Plate central defender Mario Yepes, a transfer that could hijack Genoa`s efforts to land the Colombian.

Yepes had been strongly linked with a move to Serie B side Genoa last week, but French champions Nantes see the player as an ideal addition to their troubled squad.

Les Canaris have started the defence of their Championnat title in the worst possible style, and a 1-1 home draw with Sedan on Saturday has left them bottom of the table with just two points from their opening six games.

This dire start has prompted Nantes boss Raynald Denoueix to consider using his wild card purchase at this early stage, with Yepes` defensive capabilities proving to be an attractive proposition.

Yepes has been linked with a string of European teams over the last 12 months, with Aston Villa, West Ham and Roma all registering an interest, and it remains to be seen if Nantes can win the race for such a coveted player.