Benzema happy at LYON

Lyon director Bernard Lacombe has moved to quell heightening speculation that suggests Karim Benzema will leave Stade Gerland over the summer.

The precociously talented young striker has been strongly linked with Manchester United, as Sir Alex Ferguson weighs up just how to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.

A €40million (£34m) offer is reportedly in the offing, while Inter Milan are also weighing up a bid as they are resigned to losing wantaway striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

However, Lacombe insists he has not received any offers for the 21-year-old, who is also thought to be on Real Madrid's radar.

"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 international 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 last season, at an average of a goal every other game.