L'OM still want Balde

Marseille still feel there is a chance of signing Celtic defender Bobo Balde.

Balde discussed a move to Stade Velodrome last week after deciding to exercise a clause in his contract which allows him to leave Parkhead for nothing.

But Balde returned to Glasgow after failing to agree on personal terms and he played in Celtic's win over Falkirk on Saturday.

That appeared to suggest Marseille's interest in the Guinean defender had ended but the French giants are still on Balde's trail.

L'OM are hoping they now have sufficient finances to resurrect the deal for Balde, although they are still to commit themselves to a renewed bid.

"We can't close the door completely on a move for Balde and right now I feel it's difficult for us to say we will or we won't make this transfer," said Marseille president Pape Diouf.

"But maybe something can change to repair this deal and bring him to Marseille. I say this with some pessimism though.

"The player clearly wanted to come to us but from the start we knew it would be a difficult piece of business because of the finances involved.

"We tried to counter that, though, and believed we had, until the last moment, when the boy took advice from well-intentioned people and changed his mind.

"That was purely a financial decision so, while the file is closed at the moment, we can never say never."