Lyon aim to hijack Chamakh's move to England

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas would welcome Marouane Chamakh "with open arms'' should the Bordeaux striker decide to move to Les Gones.

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Chamakh takes a break in training.

Chamakh has outlined his intention to leave the French champions this summer and would prefer a switch to a Premier League side in England.

However, Les Girondins have yet to receive a bid for the Morocco international despite reported interest from Arsenal and Sunderland, among others.

Lyon could now test Bordeaux's - and Chamakh's - resolve with a cheeky offer of their own. Aulas said: "When I see that Chamakh wishes to leave, but that people would authorise a departure to England but perhaps not France, it is regrettable, because we would be ready to welcome him with open arms.''

Lyon are on the look-out for a striker to complete their summer recruitment, having spent €57m on Michel Bastos, Lisandro Lopez and Aly Cissokho.

Chamakh is the latest striker on their wishlist, with Nice's Loic Remy and Toulouse's Andre-Pierre Gignac other targets.

"Lisandro Lopez, Bastos and Cissokho were the three priorities,'' added Aulas. "There remains one more of them, in attack.''