Houllier keen on Clement

Lyon manager Gerard Houllier has confirmed his club are attempting to re-sign midfielder Jeremy Clement from Rangers.

The 22-year-old French midfielder left Lyon last summer to move to Ibrox, where he became one of Paul Le Guen's first signings. However Clement is eager to quit Rangers in the wake of manager Le Guen's exit, claiming that staying in Scotland could affect his international ambitions.

Houllier said: "Is Jeremy Clement still happening? The answer is yes, but we are in competition with another great club."

The rivals to Lyon for Clement's signature are Paris St Germain, where Le Guen has swiftly returned to management.

Both clubs are thought to be offering similar packages, and Clement is clamouring for a move to PSG.

Clement said: "I came to Rangers because I wanted to work with Paul and believed he could achieve things at Rangers but with him gone it's back to the situation beforehand where the SPL just isn't rated in France.

"I obviously have ambitions to play for my country but I wouldn't achieve them by staying on in Scotland. That's why I asked the club's management to let me go. They agreed it was probably best for all concerned.

"I was flattered there was interest from other clubs, including Lyon. But I made it clear to everyone I wanted to carry on working with Paul at PSG."

Meanwhile, Rangers midfielder Libor Sionko admits Le Guen's decision to strip Barry Ferguson of the captaincy caused divisions among the players.

The 29-year-old Czech player said, according to the Daily Record: "One part of the team stood behind the coach and the other part behind the captain - and it wasn't good."