Marseille are interested in signing Jason Denayer from Manchester City, his agent has confirmed, as the French club emerged as the favourites to loan the 20-year-old centre-back.
Denayer was pictured in Turkey on Monday as Galatasaray tried to tie up a move for the Belgium international, but it was not finalised.
Agent Jesse de Preter said Marseille are keen on his client, who has several suitors, and claimed it is up to City whether he moves to the Ligue 1 club.
He told Footmercato: "I can confirm that Marseille are interested and that we have had very, very positive discussions with them. It is now more up to City to say yes or no.
"There are many candidates -- many clubs have contacted me. Two are very interested, Marseille and a Turkish club. They have also contacted City directly.
"They have shown a serious desire in having Jason and are ready to grant him an important place in their team."
Denayer signed a new, five-year contract with City in the summer and, after returning from a successful loan spell at Celtic, was expected to be their fourth-choice centre-back this season.
The Premier League leaders signed Nicolas Otamendi from Valencia for £31.5 million, though, and De Preter said that Denayer needs to play games this season.
"When we extended Jason's deal, we agreed that there would be no further arrivals in central defence, or no big signings anyway," he said. "As can happen with big clubs, City changed their minds and signed Otamendi for €45m.
"You can hardly say that he is a bad player. He is new, and he will play, so it will be more difficult for Jason to have playing time.
"I contacted City to tell them that it was not what we had agreed. Manchester City showed a lot of understanding, given our discussions during the extension."
He added that the Belgian national team staff had said it was important for Denayer to play in the build-up to Euro 2016, and added: "For us, the most important thing is that the club that brings in Jason absolutely wants him.
"For us, it is important that, first of all, the club is really interested in Jason, really likes him, and secondly that the club has qualified for the Champions League or at least the Europa League."
Sunderland, who have conceded 11 goals in their first four games this season and who are trying to bring in defensive reinforcements, were also linked with Denayer but manager Dick Advocaat said he will not be going to the Stadium of Light.
The Dutchman said in a news conference after Sunderland's 6-3 win over Exeter on Tuesday: "There has been talk about the young guy from Manchester City, but he is going to another club. We are still looking, but when [Younes] Kaboul is fit, he's a very good player."