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Olympique Lyonnais Track Toulouse Duo Moussa Sissoko & Cheikh M’Bengue - Report

Keen on increasing the depth of their squad, OL appear poised to open discussions with the Pink City club over a pair of their hottest prospects...

Nov 16, 2009 9:45:16 AM

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Ligue 1 - Cheikh Mbengue (Toulouse)

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According a report in Le Parisien, Olympique Lyonnais are closely following the actions of young Toulouse pair Moussa Sissoko and Cheikh M’Bengue.

General manager of les Gones, Claude Puel, needs reinforcements in the middle of the pitch, and 20-year-old Sissoko would appear to be a fine signing. Having already proven himself with le Tefece, impressing to such an extent that he has already been capped for the French national side, it is widely considered that it is time for the central midfielder to take a step up a level.

Many of Europe’s biggest clubs are tracking the Paris-born youngster, with Milan the latest side to be credited with a serious interest, though Serie A rivals Juventus are believed to be watching the player too.

A box-to-box dynamo, Sissoko has been compared to Patrick Vieira, and with an increase in his goal scoring power this season – he already has six Ligue 1 strikes to his name – he is beginning to grow into a player of such stature.

Meanwhile, Cheikh M’Bengue is Toulouse’s regular left-back. A player blessed with a fine engine and a burning desire to push forward, he has been a regular in the France Under-21 side since making his debut in 2008.

Noted for his hard, sometimes over-zealous, tackling, M’Bengue would act as immediate back-up to Aly Cissokho in the OL side. Les Gones are without an experienced understudy for the former Porto man.

Lyon chased Toulouse striker Andre-Pierre Gignac last summer but were put off by the goal-getter’s price tag. They will likely face a difficult tug-of-war to prise either of the youngsters away from the south west – Sissoko’s contract expires in 2012, while M’Bengue’s deal runs out in 2013.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com

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