Boro track l'OM duo

Middlesbrough linked with French forwards

By Giscard Gourizro & Graeme Bailey   Last updated: 4th August 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Boro track l'OM duo

Samassa: Boro interest

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Middlesbrough are reported to be on the trail of Marseille duo Mamadou Samassa and Elliot Grandin.

Reports from the South of France confirm Marseille coach Didier Deschamps has little need for either forward this season and is willing to let them both leave.

21-year-old Grandin, who joined Marseille from Caen in 2008, plays wide on the right, whilst centre-forward Samassa, 23, also joined last year from Le Mans.

Both have featured a number of times, but Deschamps has now decided that the two former France Under 21 internationals are surplus to requirements.

A number of English clubs are understood to be keen, with Boro reported to be interested in both. Although with Leroy Lita having signed on Monday, and with Afonso Alves and Tuncay Sanli yet to leave the club, it remains to be seen how many more forward options Gareth Southgate will want.

However, Southgate has confirmed his intention to bring in a target man, so 6ft 2in Samassa could be of particular interest to him.

Speaking to skysports.com, Samassa admitted he was ready to leave the Stade Velodrome.

"I did not play as much as I wanted to last season," he told skysports.com.

"And I don't think I am in the plans for the new coach too much - but I am looking for first-team football.

"So if I have a chance for that somewhere else, I would be very happy to prove myself."