Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 9y

Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda seeking exit 'to progress'

Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda has paved the way for a move out of the Ligue 1 club this summer as he seeks to challenge Hugo Lloris for the role of France No. 1.

Mandanda, 30, has just a year left on his OM deal, and having spent eight years at the Stade Velodrome, the France international is keeping his options open ahead of talks with OM president Vincent Labrune after seeing Andre Ayew leave the club already.

"I am waiting for the end of the international window to talk to president Labrune and to know if the coach is counting on me. I've been at Marseille for eight years. I feel really good there, but I aspire to be able to discover something else both professionally and personally," he said in Le Parisien.

"The club has lost some key elements, so we'll have to see how they count on recruiting to build a competitive team in a difficult financial situation. I'll take that into consideration.

"But there also has to be interesting offers from clubs which will allow me to progress in sporting terms. It's important for me to be able to challenge for the title and play for a place at the top of the table."

Despite excellent displays for OM last season in helping the club finish fourth, Mandanda remains behind Tottenham goalkeeper Lloris in the pecking order with Les Bleus.

The DR Congo-born stopper recently suggested he would welcome a move across the Channel to join his international team rival in the Premier League in the hope of boosting his profile sufficiently to make France boss Didier Deschamps consider his team selection ahead of Euro 2016.

"I can't resign myself to being No. 2. But I'm aware of the situation and of this particular position. You don't just change your No. 1 like that. Moreover, Hugo is playing well," explained Mandanda, who played for France in March's friendlies when Lloris was injured only for the status quo to be restored against Belgium last weekend.

"The only thing I can do is play well with my club and with the national team when I'm called upon. And why not put a slight doubt in the coach's mind, even if I know it's difficult."

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