Lyon eye United pair

Manchester United defenders Mikael Silvestre and Gabriel Heinze remain targets of French champions Lyon.

Les Gones are desperate to fill the void left by Cris, the Brazilian centre-back who has been ruled out for six months with a knee injury.

And Lyon coach Alain Perrin has confirmed that Silvestre and Heinze are on the club’s wanted list.

On left-sided France defender Silvestre, Perrin said: “His agent has made a discreet appeal to us.

“Mikael has the advantage of being a versatile left-footer as well. We must now see the conditions in which he could come.”

Yesterday Heinze lost his attempt to force United to allow him to move to Premier League rivals Liverpool.

The 29-year-old claimed the Red Devils had given him written permission to pursue a transfer to another club for a fee of £6.8m, but a Premier League arbitration panel ruled against him.

Heinze is set to appeal against the decision but Perrin could make a move.

“We are waiting for a response about Gabriel Heinze,”

“He really has the profile of the player we are looking for.”