Chamakh to snub extended Bordeaux stay

The 25-year-old Moroccan international was the subject of one of the longest-running transfer sagas of the summer transfer window, with the striker linked with a string of Premier League sides including Arsenal, West Ham, Sunderland, Spurs, Fulham and Blackburn.

However, Bordeaux remained reluctant to let their prize asset go to anyone other than what they considered a bigger club than themselves, with Arsenal unwilling to meet the Ligue 1 club's valuation of the player, who netted 13 league goals last season.

The striker was forced to reject fresh speculation regarding his future this week, after reports surfaced linking the goal-getter with a move to Juventus next summer.

And Chamakh has insisted that he is 100 percent focussed on sealing Bordeaux's passage through to the knockout phases of this year's premier club competition.

However, he revealed that he still does not expect to sign a new contract with the club, meaning he will able to leave for free in 12 month's time.

"I dreaded talks about prolonging my stay. But neither my agent, nor the club told me about it so far," he said in L'Equipe.

"I know my officials, but they let me work in peace, they didn't come to put me under pressure. Anyway, I don't want to change my mind so far, I keep my decision to not prolong.

"I am dreaming about scoring one goal in the Champions League, I know it is essential.

"To become famous, those six matches are more important that a whole season in Le Championnat, that is crazy.

"I have realised I was not well-known in England. I was a little surprised, but that is no worry to me. Frankly, more than a goal, I am dreaming to reach the knockout stage, all together. It would be huge."