Lyon supremo expects Benzema stay

Lyon director Bernard Lacombe is confident Karim Benzema will still be at the Stade Gerland next season.

The young striker is one of the world’s hottest properties at the moment, with Inter Milan and Real Madrid among the clubs reportedly considering tabling a €40m bid.

Speculation is also rife that Manchester United are ready to use some of the money earned from the impending sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to bring Benzema to Old Trafford.

However, Lacombe insists he has not received any offers for the 21-year-old.

“The fax is not overheating,” he told le Dauphine Libere. “Even if you should never say never in football, there is a lot of noise about nothing at this moment.

“The idea is still to keep Karim for another season.”

Benzema’s agent has also confirmed the France forward is keen to remain at Lyon for another year at least before seeking a move to a bigger club.

“OL don’t need liquid assets and Karim wants to stay until the 2010 World Cup,” said Karim Djaziri. “On our part a departure is not on the agenda.”

Benzema, who has come through the ranks at the Ligue 1 giants, scored 23 goals in all competitions this season – an average of a goal every other game