Marlet set for Marseille move

Olympique de Marseille have agreed to sign Fulham FC's French international forward Steve Marlet on a year's loan.

Medical on Thursday
Marlet initially joins the French side on a year's loan, subject to a medical on Thursday, but Marseille have also secured the option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season. He joined Fulham from Olympique Lyonnais in a deal worth around €16.5m in 2001/02.

Eighth acquisition
Marlet, 29, becomes the French club's eighth summer capture and the third striker to arrive along with Didier Drogba and Ahmed Hossam 'Mido'. The forward could make his debut against AC Ajaccio on Sunday and will also be available to play in the UEFA Champions League first phase should Marseille beat FK Austria Wien on Wednesday.

Distraught Bakayoko
Marseille coach Alain Perrin has made room in his squad for Marlet by releasing Ivory Coast international Ibrahim Bakayoko from his contract - but club president Christophe Bouchet admitted that it wasn't an easy decision. "It was very emotional," he said. "He burst into tears when we told him. Ibrahim's departure will be met with sadness by everyone at the club."

No Marsiglia mercy
Meanwhile, midfield player Mickaël Marsiglia has also had his contract terminated. The 29-year-old Frenchman had spent much of the last two seasons on loan at Spanish second division side RC Ferrol.