French international goalkeeper Steve Mandanda has decided to remain at Premier League outfit Crystal Palace at least until the end of the season, according to our colleagues at L’Équipe. Mandanda met with Marseille Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta last month about a possible return, and was open to the move for family reasons. Click Here: Atlanta Falcons Jersey However, Mandanda has decided to remain with Palace and fight to win back his number one goalkeeping spot from Wayne Hennessey.

Speaking in an interview with German outlet Kicker, Arsenal attacking midfielder Mesut Özil moved to respond to criticism from pundits such as Gunners legend and former French international Thierry Henry who has claimed in recent days that the German is “holding the club hostage” with regards to his contract situation. “Everyone has a right to say what they want but what they have to say doesn’t interest me. Ex-players or other people who have a view don’t know what is actually being said between me and the club.” (H/T The Guardian) Click Here: state of origin rugby jersey

French international central midfielder Blaise Matuidi’s contract extension negotiations with PSG are at boiling point, according to our colleagues at L’Équipe. Director of Football Patrick Kluivert’s priority at the moment appears to be to sign a striker as back up for Edinson Cavani, with the Dutchman having been the one in the first place to open the door to Matuidi for a departure last summer. It was PSG President Al Khelaifi who insisted that Matuidi rejected an offer from Juventus and stayed, it was Al Khelaifi who announced that the French international should have a new contract, but nothing has been done about it. The two parties have discussed the contours…

Ligue 1 side Montpellier HSC have submitted a bid for Czech defender Lukas Pokorny, according to L’Équipe. Click Here: Borussia Dortmund soccer tracksuit The 23 year old Slovan Liberec centre back has been identified by Montpellier scouts as a replacement for Nicolas Saint-Ruf who is expected to join SC Bastia today on a 3.5 year deal.

35-year-old French international Patrice Evra will join Marseille in the coming hours, subject to a medical. A 1.5 year deal has been agreed for left-back Evra to return to France and OM, the club he started his professional career at 21 years ago. French reporting indicates that Evra will undergo a medical in the coming hours this evening and will then be officially announced as OM’s second signing of the window tomorrow. Click Here: vans shop

Belgian giants Anderlecht and Dutch side PSV are considering making a move for Marseille defender Karim Rekik, according to RMC. Rekik is seeking to depart the club in search of increased playing time, but his family are a little conflicted and might wish to remain in Marseille until the end of the current campaign. It will be touch and go in the final hours of this window. Click Here: cronulla sharks team jersey

Bordeaux have announced the completion of the signing of midfielder Younousse Sankharé from fellow Ligue 1 side Lille. The 27-year-old joins Girondins on a four-year-deal for an undisclosed fee after only signing for LOSC at the start of the current season. Sankhare has made 21 Ligue 1 appearances this season for Lille but found the project of working under Jocelyn Gourvennec at Bordeaux too enticing to turn down. Previously of Paris Saint-Germain, the Senegalese international will be hoping to transfer some of his performance for Lille this season to Bordeaux as they hunt for Europa League football. N.S. Click Here: qld maroons jersey

Speaking in an exclusive interview with SFR Sport, Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud admitted to getting goosebumps owing to the Anfield atmosphere. “It is the atmosphere, that famous song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” when they all sing it from their hearts, even when you don’t play for Liverpool, it gives you goosebumps, because you feel something. We play football to play in these sort of matches.” Click Here: Mexico football tracksuit

Lyon’s French international central midfielder Corentin Tolisso discussed potential links to Italian giants Juventus in an interview with RMC. “It is true that Juventus are a very very great club. Aside from that, we will have to see what happens this summer. It is true that they one of the best ten teams right now. Difficult to refuse that sort of club. I want the best for myself and I will think this summer about what the best decision is for me. If I feel like staying at Lyon, that will be because I have decided that I will feel better at Lyon and that it is the best choice to continue…

It is always relatively dangerous to make projections in the lower half of France’s premier division as anything could happen the coming weekend and the amount of participants may vary from one week to another. However, the league table during the international break left us with a 4 point gap between 16th placed Caen and Dijon who sit on an edgy 17th position thanks to a better goal difference. This entry will hence focus on the bottom four knowing full well that the likes of Lille, Montpellier, Metz and Caen could be sucked in the race not to go down. Nancy vs Lorient: the result that changed everything This result went…