Deflandre to leave Lyon
Belgian defender Eric Deflandre has announced he will quit reigning French champions Lyon when his contract expires in the summer.
The news is sure to alert a host of clubs throughout Europe, though the 30-year-old has revealed he would favour a move back to Belgium or Northern France.
The Belgium international, who joined Lyon in the summer of 2000 from Club Brugge, has been forced out of Paul Le Guen's starting line-up by Anthony Reveillere and is now ready to move on.
"My choice is made," he told Belgian newspaper Le Soir.
"I know that the coach (Le Guen) does not count on me anymore. And I did not accept the fact that he took the opportunity of my injury to install Reveillere in the first team.
"I have not been called up for a meeting by the managers (to discuss a contract extension).
"I have drawn the conclusions myself. But I want to stay with Lyon until the end of my contract for family reasons."
Le Soir claim that Borussia Dortmund, Torino, Standard Liege and Valencia are all monitoring the full back, and also point to interest from Premiership duo Middlesbrough and Everton.
However, despite the interest from the higher profile European leagues, Deflandre seems to have set his heart on a return to his homeland.
"My first wish is to get as close as possible to Belgium. Lille or Lens showed their interest a little while ago and they would be ideal solutions for me," he concluded.
