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Marseille sporting director José Anigo has pledged to keep playmaker Franck Ribéry at the club despite interest from around the continent.
The France Under-21 international has been in scintillating form this season, attracting attention from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur amongst others, but Anigo is determined to hold on to his man.
"He's not for sale, neither in January nor in June," declared Anigo. "If it happens, it won't be with my agreement. You can't sell your best players and hope to have a good team."
His comments echo those of club President Pape Diouf earlier this week, except that Diouf added that he would listen to any groundbreaking offers.
"I'm sure he won't be going in the winter, but if at the end of the season Lyon propose us £34m and John Carew, then there's every chance I'll say yes," commented the former players' agent.
Rather than offloading personnel, the real priority for Marseille when the transfer window opens will be to recruit new talent to offset the loss of five players during the African Nations Cup.
And with surprising honesty, Anigo listed the men he is keen to bring on board: "We've been taking a close look at [Barcelona's] Maxi Lopez and [Valencia's Marco] Di Vaio."
Both players are forwards, and Anigo's interest may reflect the fact that long-term target Djibril Cissé has spoken of his desire to stay and fight for his place at Liverpool.
Monaco's Emmanuel Adebayor is still on Marseille's wish-list, though, and Anigo told reporters that the Togo striker is interested in moving to the Stade Vélodrome.
"Everyone including Pape and [Coach] Jean Fernandez is agreed that they want to bring him here in June," he explained. "Especially because he wants to come."
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