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Fulham join race for Vairelles

last updated Tuesday 14th August 2001, 12:12 PM
Tony Vairelles
Tony Vairelles of Lyon
Premiership new-boys Fulham have entered the race to sign Lyon's out-of-favour striker Tony Vairelles, according to reports in France.

Corsican side Bastia looked to be favourites to land the former France international but Fulham boss Jean Tigana is reported to have contacted his opposite number at Lyon, Jacques Santini, about the 28-year-old.

Tigana is keen to sign a new striker to boost his newly-promoted squad and Fulham's number nine shirt has been left vacant to accommodate the new recruit - be it Vairelles or someone else.

The Cottagers have already done business with the French league runners-up this summer, signing France Under-21 international defender Steed Malbranque on a £5million five-year deal.

Santini has refused to integrate Vairelles into his first-team squad this term after a dispute last season which saw the £6million recruit from Lens in 1999 loaned out to Bordeaux in January.

Vairelles was not even part of the Lyon reserve squad which faced Tours last Sunday.

Vairelles is best known in England for his Champions League contretemps with Arsenal's Lee Dixon at Wembley on November 25 1998, which led to Vairelles being sent off and the full-back accused of cheating.

Didier Deschamps and his struggling Monaco side are also reported to be interested in Vairelles.
Source footymad