Meghni set for Saints move

Mourad Meghni is to join St Etienne after rejecting the chance to move to England.

The highly-rated Frenchman is looking to leave Bologna following their relegation from Serie A.

Bologna suffered relegation to Serie B after losing a play-off against Parma and Meghni has informed the club he wants to move on.

A number of clubs have expressed an interest in the talented midfielder with Juventus and Palermo thought to be keen to keep him in Italy.

Several English clubs also registered an interest in Meghni and Monaco-based agent Willie McKay tried to broker a deal to bring the player to England.

However, it appears Meghni wants to move to France to bolster his international hopes.

Meghni believes a move to France could boost his chances of breaking into Raymond Domenech's plans for the World Cup next summer.

McKay revealed that he spoke to several Premiership clubs about Meghni, but that it looks like he will move to St Etienne as he wants to be playing regularly with the World Cup on the horizon.

"I spoke to several Premiership clubs about Meghni," McKay told skysports.com.

"But the problem was that a lot of English clubs don't know much about him and he is looking to be playing regularly wherever he goes.

"It looks like he wants to go to France and St Etienne are close to agreeing a loan for him.

"He wants to be playing in France as he is keen to make the step up from the Under-21 team into the full France national team and that is a big factor in his decision where to move."