Sven not Marseille bound - Inigo

Marseille sporting director Jose Inigo has laughed off rumours linking Sven-Goran Eriksson with the coach’s position at the club, insisting Albert Emon will still be in charge after the winter break.

Speculation has been rife this week that a mystery buyer, who is believed to be Canadian, is set to purchase the Mediterranean club from current owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus and install former England boss Eriksson as coach.

However, Inigo has dismissed these rumours, and confirmed Emon will be leading OM when action resumes in the new year.

Asked whether Emon’s position is under threat, Inigo told L’Equipe: “No. After the break, he will be here.

“It will not be Sven-Goran Eriksson, I can assure you. Albert will be here.”

The former England manager is reportedly being paid £13,000 (€19,350) a day, more than four months after officially leaving his job at Soho Square.

On the rumours about Eriksson, Inigo added: “He is not even here but he still sees himself as coach, and says he will keep (Djibril) Cisse and (Franck) Ribery. It is extraordinary!

“I have seem them (the rumours) and I prefer to laugh at them.”

Inigo insists the speculation surrounding the club will not affect its position in the transfer market going into the January transfer window.

And he revealed OM have a number of targets, adding: “Ideally, we want to buy a player for each department – an extra midfielder, a centre-back and an attacker – if we have the means to get them.”

Marseille are seventh in the table going into the final round of fixtures before the winter break.