Cheyrou heads back to France

Olympique de Marseille have taken Liverpool FC midfield player Bruno Cheyrou on loan for a year.

Permanent option
The 26-year-old, who has won three caps for France, will join last season's UEFA Cup runners-up for the coming season with the option of making his stay a permanent one if Marseille decide to buy out the remainder of his Liverpool contract in June 2005.

Limited appearances
Cheyrou made just 12 appearances for Liverpool last season, scoring two goals in the process. He also appeared in the Premiership's side's defeat against Marseille in the UEFA Cup fourth round, but still did enough to impress coach José Anigo, who would like to use Cheyrou on the left of the Marseille midfield.

Great reputation
The midfield player came to Liverpool in June 2002. He was signed by the club's former manager, Frenchman Gérard Houllier, after two excellent seasons in Ligue 1 with Lille OSC. He will rejoin former Lille team-mates Johnny Ecker and Sylvain N'Diaye at the Stade Vélodrome.

Fourth newcomer
Cheyrou is Marseille's fourth major signing of the summer as they look forward to a rare season without European action after finishing seventh in Ligue 1 in 2003/04. FC Sochaux-Montbéliard's Benoît Pedretti, Montpellier Hérault SC's Habib Bamogo and Paris Saint-Germain FC's Frédéric Déhu have already joined Marseille.