MALBRANQUE IN TALKS WITH FULHAM

Malbranque was due to travel for the first match of Le Championnat season, but according to the player, he was in negotiation with Fulham and did not go.

Fulham boss Jean Tigana, is currently in France and travelled to Lyon to meet up with Jean-Michel Aulas and Bernard Lacombe.

Both parties agreed a fee of around 50 million Francs, although Lacombe, Lyon's sport director, admitted: "I am personally disappointed. We really relied on him (Malbranque) and he probably would have increased his first-team playing time.

"It's a shame just the day before the start of Le Championnat."

With Vikash Dhorasoo and Tony Vairelles at the club, the officials of Lyon will not look to replace Malbranque.

However, according to L'Equipe, Dhorasoo could be on his way out of the French side, with Juventus seemingly his destination.

Lacombe was in Turin on Thursday and this has increased the speculation.

On Friday, planetfootball.com revealed that Lyon and Fulham had agreed a price for Malbranque.