Lyon will not sign France defender Jean-Alain Boumsong before the weekend as the move is being delayed by Juventus, who are refusing to release him until they have found a replacement.

Lyon, three points clear at the top before visiting neighbours St Etienne on Sunday, had earlier said a deal had been settled and Boumsong would be joining them for three and a half years.

"I've never seen anything like this in 30 years," Lyon administrative director Marino Faccioli said.

Lyon have agreed to release Czech striker Milan Baros, who is poised to join Premier League club Portsmouth on loan with an option to buy him.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas had said the club would part company with either Baros or Brazilian forward Fred, who has since said he would stay at the club after turning down an offer from Paris St Germain.

Lyon said they were tired of reading reports that several leading clubs were chasing France striker Karim Benzema. "We understand that such a player is an interesting target but he will not leave Lyon," the club said in a statement.

Paris St Germain are still looking for reinforcements a few days before the winter transfer window closes. PSG chairman Alain Cayzac told reporters he would love to sign Sweden striker Johan Elmander from Toulouse. "Elmander is a very interesting player," Cayzac said.

Rennes will be without suspended forward Mickael Pagis when they visit bottom club Metz. Pagis was sanctioned by the French Football League for a challenge on Argentine defender Juan Angel Krupoviesa in Rennes's 3-1 win over Marseille on January 13. He had escaped with a yellow card but the LFP ruled he should have been sent off and banned him for one match.

Lorient, who host second-placed Bordeaux on Sunday, face three weeks without defender and captain Sylvain Marchal because of a torn thigh muscle.

Bordeaux's Brazilian defender Fernando will be sidelined for a month with a sprained knee ligament.

Eurosport