Bouchet to block Sychev switch
Tuesday, 27 January 2004
Players:
Steve Marlet
Dmitry Sychev
Teams:
Marseille
By Patrick Haond
Marseille chairman Christophe Bouchet is ready to thwart Dmitry Sychev´s aspirations of a return to Russia.
Sychev is hankering for a move back to his homeland after failing to establish himself during his time at Marseille.
The gifted forward joined l´OM from Spartak Moscow during last January´s transfer window but has not made the anticipated impact.
Both Lokomotiv Moscow and Torpedo Moscow were willing to offer the 20-year-old an escape route but the French club are set to block his exit.
Previous l´OM coach Alain Perrin was prepared to sacrifice Sychev but club supremo Bouchet wants to retain the starlet.
Sychev is currently an important player for new boss Jose Anigo due to the shortage of available strikers at Stade Velodrome.
Didier Drogba has picked up an injury, Mido is on African Cup of Nations duty while Steve Marlet has missed the last two months with an ankle complaint.
That has left Sychev as the only fit attacker and he will lead the line in Tuesday´s rearranged league meetings against Metz.
France international Marlet, though, could hand Anigo a boost by featuring at some point of the contest.
Marlet has not played since early November but, despite a return to fitness, his lack of match sharpness means Marseille are unwilling to grant Sychev´s
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