Marseilles have rejected an approach from Manchester City for Djibril Cisse, the forward. The former Liverpool striker has been linked with a return to the Premier League in the January transfer window after failing to secure a regular starting role with the French club this season.

"He is wanted, that is for sure," Pape Diouf, the Marseilles president, said. "I myself have been approached by Manchester City [about Cisse] but I turned it down categorically."

West Ham United were also believed to be interested in taking the France forward on loan.

Liverpool signed Cisse for £14 million from Auxerre in July 2004, but after having ill luck with injury he spent the 2005-06 season on loan with Marseilles before joining the club on a permanent basis last summer.

But he has been forced to play second fiddle to Mamadou Niang up front this season and has scored just two goals in Ligue 1.

However, with Niang having left to play for Senegal in the African Cup of Nations, Cisse could be set for an extended spell in the first team.

"I want to be clear - Djibril Cisse will not leave. He will stay at OM until the end of the season," Diouf said. "I have always wanted to rediscover the Djibril that we signed, the efficient Djibril.

"I have never doubted his abilities, his qualities. He got through difficulties last year and I have no doubt that he will get out of them again this season.

"With everything that he has had to endure, read, see and hear, I understand that it piles the pressure on him to leave, having been contacted by an English club that is among the leading teams in their league.

"But when he and myself discussed this, he understood my position - he understood that I will not let him leave and he has no problem with me."