Ligue 1 - Lyon chief warns United off duo

Eurosport - Tue, 12 Feb 09:54:00 2008

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas claims Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has enquired about Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa.

FOOTBALL Ligue 1 2007/2008 Lyon Toulouse Benzema Sirieix - 0

The highly-rated attacking duo have been repeatedly linked with a move to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Chelsea also rumoured to be interested.

Back in the autumn, Aulas warned any interested clubs that Benzema (pictured) and Ben Arfa would not be sold until Lyon had won the Champions League.

The French champions meet United next week in the last 16 of Europe's elite club competition - and Aulas claims Ferguson has been in touch about his two brightest young talents.

But the Lyon supremo is in no mood to sell in the near future after United were linked with a £40 million double swoop.

"I told Sir Alex that Benzema and Ben Arfa will not leave in the next two years," Aulas is quoted in The Sun.

"We want to build our future on them.

"If he wants to exchange Cristiano Ronaldo for Ben Arfa we could talk about it, but they would have to also give us a bit of money."

Striker Benzema has scored 16 goals in 24 league games this season, while Ben Arfa has impressed on the wing for Lyon.

Sporting Life / Eurosport