Niang set for Marseille

Marseille appear to have won the race for Strasbourg striker Mamadou Niang.

West Ham United and Marseille were battling it out for Niang - as revealed by skysports.com - after holding talks with the player and Strasbourg.

Marseille look to have beaten The Premiership new boys to the Niang signing, with the Stade Velodrome outfit agreeing a deal with Strasbourg.

The Senegal international is thought to have been offered a four-year deal at Marseille and he is due to arrive for talks on Friday before concluding the move.

The news is a blow for Hammers boss Alan Pardew, as he was keen to add Niang to his squad for next season and he will have to look elsewhere to bring in a new striker.

Meanwhile, Marseille midfielder Laurent Batlles has ended speculation about his future by signing a new deal at the club.

The former Bastia ace has agreed a two-year contract extension to keep him at Marseille until the summer of 2009.

Toulouse were keen on signing him, but Battles has decided to stay at Marseille.