Bordeaux target Silvestre

Blanc keen to be reunited with former team-mate

By Patrick Haond   Last updated: 13th May 2008

Mikael Silvestre Manchester United

Silvestre: Linked with French return

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc is reportedly planning to raid former club Manchester United for Mikael Silvestre.

Reports emanating from France suggest Blanc has made his former Old Trafford team-mate one of his top summer transfer targets.

With David Jemmali set to leave Bordeaux at the end of the season after turning down a new deal, Blanc is in need of defensive reinforcements and sees Silvestre as an ideal replacement.

Blanc is a big admirer of Silvestre and he is believed to have enquired about the French international last summer.

Silvestre's future at United is uncertain as he has just one-year remaining on his contract and he is well down the pecking order at Old Trafford.

The 30-year-old could be tempted to return to France for regular first-team football and the prospect of UEFA Champions League football at Bordeaux next season could sway Silvestre's decision.

Targets

Meanwhile, Bordeaux are believed to be keeping tabs on Yoann Gourcuff and Jeremy Menez as possible replacements for Johan Micoud.

Micoud is set to quit Bordeaux in the summer leaving Bordeaux with a huge void to fill and Blanc is drawing up his list of targets.

Milan starlet Gourcuff could be an option as he is thought to be considering a loan move away from the San Siro after struggling to establish himself at the Rossoneri.

Tottenham, Marseille and some Italian clubs are believed to be monitoring Gourcuff's situation.

Monaco midfielder Menez has been a long-term target for Bordeaux with Les Girondins missing out to Monaco for the player's signature when he left Sochaux in 2006.

Menez has just over a year to run on his contract at Monaco and they could be tempted to sell for a big offer rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer.