Remy close to Marseille move

NICE, France (AFP) – French side Nice are close to concluding a 15 million euro deal with Marseille for their France international striker, Loic Remy.

Remy is also being courted by German outfit Hoffenheim, who have tabled an offer of 16million, but Remy, the 23-year-old former Lyon forward, prefers a move to the French titleholders with their promise of Champions League football.

The France international dined with the Hoffenheim sporting director and coaching staff on Tuesday evening and held talks with Marseille coach Didier Deschamps on Wednesday afternoon.

The selling club’s president Gilbert Stellardo insisted that despite Hoffenheim offering more money Nice would not go against the wishes of their player.

Remy commented: “I am extremely happy and proud that Marseille are interested in me. After having waited a long time for my transfer, things have really speeded up this afternoon.

“It’s very sudden, I was surprised. Rather than time for reflection I need a little time to adapt to the situation, but it’s looking good.”

He added: “Didier Deschamps telephoned me this afternoon to say that I needed to work very hard and that he would be there to support me.”

Marseille’s sporting director Jose Anigo and managing director Antoine Veyrat are in Nice to try and tie up the deal in time for Remy to make his debut against Lorient on Saturday.

Remy has scored 25 goals for Nice over the past two seasons and has also been linked with interest from English clubs Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Stoke City and West Ham United.

Marseille president Jean-Claude Dassier has also revealed that his club have agreed personal terms with Toulouse striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, having sold captain and striker Mamadou Niang to Fenerbahce last week.