Aruna Dindane Tight-Lipped Over Stoke Switch

When Ivorian striker Aruna Dindane went down in obvious agony having tried to keep a ball in play as Racing Club Lens tussled with Monaco just a fortnight from the end of the 2007/08 Ligue 1 season, it virtually signalled his side’s demise from the top-flight.

While Lens have recovered admirably from that blow, Dindane is still on the comeback trail from his knee ligament injury, although it is possible that he could play against Boulogne-Sur-Mer tomorrow evening. The 28-year-old will want his comeback to mirror that of Lens, who appear set to clinch promotion back to Ligue 1. However, rumours suggest that he may not complete his recovery in France.

Stoke City are hotly tipped to be following the former Anderlecht man, who is coy over a possible move to the English Premier League. “If I go to England, I go to England, but there are also teams in France,” he explained nonchalantly in an interview with l’Equipe. “It is not necessary for me to go to England.

“I’ve signed a two year deal with Lens. I will not directly discuss anything with the clubs; it’s Lens that must deal with that. I cannot help it that I find myself in the middle of something like this. If the club feels they need to sell me, I don’t necessarily see a negative side.”

Relegation to Ligue 2 has reportedly hit les Sang et Ors' bank balance and, with Toifilou Maoulida and Kévin Monnet-Paquet (both of whom have also been widely courted), regularly finding the net, it could well be decided that Dindane is superfluous to requirements, particularly given his price tag of around €6 million.

His comments today directly contradict quotes attributed to Dindane’s agent on Setanta Sports yesterday, which suggested that the Ivorian international would be “thrilled” with a cross-Channel move.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com