Sir Alex Ferguson's hopes of attracting Lyon's £24million-rated midfielder Mahamadou Diarra to Manchester United appear doomed to failure.
Diarra is rumoured to be at the top of Ferguson's hit-list and there was even some weekend speculation the African had been on a tour of Old Trafford and the club's Carrington training ground in a bid to seal a deal.
However, those claims have been flatly denied by Diarra's agent Frederic Guerra, who insists the player has expressed his determination to stay at Lyon for at least another year.
"The information about Mahamadou going on a trip to Manchester is not good," said Guerra.
"I have not had any contact with Manchester United about him and, in any case, he wants to stay in France with Lyon.
"He only signed a new four-year contract with the club last year and he wants to stay for another season at least."
Diarra is rumoured to be at the top of Ferguson's hit-list and there was even some weekend speculation the African had been on a tour of Old Trafford and the club's Carrington training ground in a bid to seal a deal.
However, those claims have been flatly denied by Diarra's agent Frederic Guerra, who insists the player has expressed his determination to stay at Lyon for at least another year.
"The information about Mahamadou going on a trip to Manchester is not good," said Guerra.
"I have not had any contact with Manchester United about him and, in any case, he wants to stay in France with Lyon.
"He only signed a new four-year contract with the club last year and he wants to stay for another season at least."
