Deschamps confirms Diarra talks

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps on Wednesday confirmed that his side were in talks with Bordeaux captain and France international Alou Diarra over a move to the French champions.

“(Diarra) is a player who obviously interests me,” said Deschamps.

“I prefer quality to quantity. Having made a sporting decision, there are discussions on an economic level, which concern my directors.”

Deschamps is believed to have informed the Marseille board of his interest in Diarra before the end of last season, when the Mediterranean club secured their first French league title since 1992.

The defensive midfielder, who will be 29 on Thursday, is under contract with Bordeaux until 2011 and has a 7.7-million-euro departure clause in his contract.

His agent is Jean-Pierre Bernes, who also represents Deschamps.

Deschamps also confirmed that he wants to keep Nigerian left-back Taye Taiwo and Ghana starlet Andre Ayew at the club.

Taiwo has been linked with a move abroad due to Argentina defender Gabriel Heinze’s current status as first-choice left-back, but Deschamps ruled out the possibility of him leaving.

“He’s under contract, he’s here and he’s staying here,” said Deschamps.

“We’d like him to extend his contract. I need him for sporting reasons, I count on him.”

Taiwo has a year to run on his current contract and Ayew, who starred for Ghana at the World Cup, will also be free to leave Marseille next June.

The 20-year-old is the son of former Marseille great Abedi Pele and Deschamps said he had great faith in the youngster, who spent last season on loan at Arles-Avignon.

“I’ve told him that I counted on him,” said Deschamps.

“And I made my position clear in April, before the World Cup, in front of the directors. I spoke to his father about it on Tuesday.”

Deschamps also sought to soften expectations about the arrival of a big-name striker at the Stade Velodrome, in preparation for Marseille’s assault on the Champions League next season.

“We will take our time. The market is very quiet, with the kind of grossly inflated prices you often see at the start of the transfer window.”