Didier Deschamps has rejected reports of an approach from Liverpool. The Marseille manager was reportedly given permission by his club to speak to Liverpool Managing Director Christian Purlsow but the former French captain rejected the club’s overtures:
“I am happy at Marseille. I am not there for just one year. A coach must be there for the long haul, and that is my wish.”
Deschamps says he is now “in discussions” with Marseille over extending his contract at the French club. Deschamps led the team to the French League title in his first season in charge last season and has had success at previous clubs too, leading Monaco to the Champions League final in 2004. It had been reported in French newspaper L’Equipe that Marseille’s chairman Jean-Claude Dassier had given Deschamps permission to speak to Purslow but Dassier denied the claims by saying:
“He (Purslow) asked me if I allowed him to meet Didier and Jean-Pierre Bernes (Deschamps’ agent). I replied that I did not allow any meeting to take place. I have also indicated that there is no way we’ll let go of our coach.”
