Carew eyes Lyon exit

John Carew concedes that his days at Lyon are drawing to a close.

John Carew concedes that his days at Lyon are drawing to a close as he looks to engineer an exit from the French champions.

The Norwegian front man has failed to ever replicate his top form since joining Lyon a year-and-a-half ago and is now set for pastures new.

Carew expects Lyon chief Gerard Houllier to off-load him in the winter transfer window, with a club currently participating in the UEFA Champions League on his radar.

"I have contact with a number of clubs, one plays Champions League football," Carew told AFP.

"If I can go this winter I am okay, unless the coach retains me, but it would surprise me.

"I don't want to leave for the same struggle as I have known at Valencia and Rome before joining Lyon."

Carew's likely exit has led Houllier to up his search for attacking reinforcements, as the former Liverpool boss admits he could strike in January.

"Today, I need someone in the offensive sector," Houllier told Le Progres.

"Of course, the injured ones will come back, but they can be sidelined again, we have already experienced that with our defenders last year.

"Nilmar is not ready for instance but I am not sure he wants to come back."

Sylvain Wiltord, meanwhile, is a doubt for Lyon's UEFA Champions League clash with Real Madrid on Tuesday after falling ill at the weekend.