Blanc: Chamakh to stay at Bordeaux
Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh has pledged his immediate future to the French champions, seemingly bringing one of the longest running transfer sagas of the summer to and end.
The Moroccan international, who has netted 15 times for his country, has been linked with a move to the Premier League throughout the close-season.
His 13 goals last term helped secure a first league title in 10 years for les Girondins, but Chamakh originally made no secret of his desire to leave the Stade Chaban Delmas.
He previously claimed to have agreed terms with Sunderland, Fulham, Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur, while Arsenal withdrew their interest in the striker after refusing to up their first offer of £5 million.
West Ham were the latest English club being linked with Chamakh's services, with the Hammers' boss Gianfranco Zola having already been linked with several high-profile forwards, including Barcelona's Eidur Gudjohnsen, Inter Milan's Mario Balotelli and Bayern Munich talisman Luca Toni, as he bids to bolster his front-line.
However, Bordeaux boss Laurent Blanc has now revealed that the much sought-after striker, who has already netted three Ligue 1 goals this season, is staying put, for now at least.
"Marouane's decision has matched my logic. The situation is much clearer for the player now," he told L'Equipe.
"He wanted to join a big club, but do you know who the biggest club is? Bordeaux!
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"So he is staying. That is just perfect."
Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.
‘Arteta, Alonso, Emery, me… none of us were physical players – we needed the understanding of the game. That probably helped us move into management’: Premier League boss reveals reasons for natural career progression
‘England have the players to win the World Cup – it’ll be tough for Thomas Tuchel to do a bad job, with the squad he has at his disposal’ Former Three Lions winger backs new boss after gentle qualifying draw