TOULOUSE, May 30 (Ligue 1) - Toulouse have parted company with coach Elie Baup, the club president Olivier Sadran has confirmed on Friday.

Alain Casanova, Baup his deputy and a former goalkeeper at the club, come as a replacement.

"TFC have decided to participate with Elie Baup, 'Sadran told a hastily convened press conference.

The Violets finished in a disappointing 17th place in Ligue 1 this season, and only avoided relegation on the last day of the campaign.

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NICE, France, May 29 - Nice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris said Thursday it was joining seven times champions France Olympique Lyon of France to replace a number Gregory Coupet.

The 21-year Lloris told a press conference he had decided to join Lyon after receiving offers from other clubs.

"I did not hesitate a second," he said. "There is no better place for me to keep improving."

LLoris said details would be settled in the coming days. According to media reports, it could be offered a five-year contract to process a transfer fee of around 10 million euros.

Coupet, 35, said he was leaving Lyon after more than a decade at the club. He had been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League.

"To succeed Coupet, who has played an important role in Lyon, is a challenge and an honour," said Lloris.

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Nice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is ready to listen to an offer from Tottenham and AC Milan and Lyon.

The 21 years as one of the most promising prospects in France, is on the radar of the best clubs in Europe and Milan are perceived as being in pole position to sign him.

Young told L'Equipe: "I'm not closing the door to anyone.

"Lyon have continuity and are in the Champions League as well. Calcio Milan are and everything that follows.

And Tottenham, they have a great project for the future with a very successful manager.

"I'll go where I feel I can improve the better until the highest level."

Spurs have allowed Radek Cerny to go to QPR and are looking for a goalkeeper.

They failed during the signing of Bolivia striker Marcelo Moreno, who moved to Shakhtar Donetsk of Cruzeiro, while interest Samuel Eto'o of Barcelona has cooled.

Spurs are still hunting for young Barcelona Giovani dos Santos, and reports in Spain have established a link between striker Dimitar Berbatov with the move to Camp Nou in the opposite direction.

Berbatov will be allowed to leave White Hart Lane if an offer is tabled.

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MARSEILLE, France, May 27 - Olympique de Marseille Samir Nasri game is to leave the club in Ligue 1 and is interested in a move to Arsenal, his agent said Tuesday.

"It will leave OM. This will be done in the coming days, Jean-Pierre Bernes, who said last week that Arsenal made an offer for France International, told local television LCM.

"The offer Arsenal took an interest in a sporting point of view. I think that in his career plan, it is something very interesting for him."

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger told French television channel TF1 at the weekend was a chance that 20 years Nasri could join the London Club. "If it did (se), it would be before Euro 2008," said Wenger.

Nasri, who is in a provisional 30-strong squad for France Euro 2008, began his professional career in Marseilles in 2004. He extended his contract with the club this year until 2012.

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Newcastle are mobile midfielder Cameroon international Achille Emana as manager Kevin Keegan is preparing to launch its recruitment campaign summer.

The 25-year contract french club Toulouse until 2011, but it says the search for a new challenge after a disappointing league campaign which saw his side finished 17th a year after the qualification for the Champions League .

It is understood the pies have opened initial talks with the player they see as a possible move and his adviser, Sébastien Thiery, said that St James' Park is a destination, consider it seriously.

Thiery said: "Achilles is ready to play in the Premier League and Newcastle is a team he played for the relish. It is strong and is a box-to-box midfielder who also has a lot of pace.

"He has the right number of caps and the right amount of experience to 25 not to be overawed by the Premier League, which would be an exciting challenge."

Emana, a product of Valencia youth system, is seeking either England or Spain for the next stage of his career, and Seville, Real Betis and West Ham are seen as potential competitors for his signature.

Portsmouth FA Cup winners have also been alerted to his availability possible.

He went to 2006 and 2008 African Cup of Nations tournament with Cameroon, and has played alongside the man Geremi pies in the final years that their countries fell 1-0 to Egypt in Ghana .

Newcastle are yet to take a decision on Joey Barton's future, while Emre has been repeated speculation that he could return to Turkey this summer.

Keegan has been linked with a move for Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, and there is little doubt, it will try to add creativity to a team that lacks certainly in the midfield for much of the last season.

However, his transfer could be complicated relations with President Chris Death of imminent departure and the installation of his successor, newly appointed vice-Derek Llambias hot favourite to take over.

However, the two men are currently working together under the watchful eye of owner Mike Ashley and it would not be surprised if the foundations of what the club hopes to do during the late season is already underway.

Meanwhile, the season Geremi is still attracting a close as he and his international colleagues to prepare four critical World Cup.

However, 29-year-old admits he is already looking forward to his return to St James' and many more things next season.

He said: "Everything is in place to succeed, no doubt. We have everything to do with the facilities, not to mention the fans. Each week, St James' Park is full. This is a great thing - it's exciting. When you play you want to fight for people and try to win something.

"When you win matches, they are happy, so it inspires you to do."

Geremi, who was signed last summer by Sam Allardyce, found himself on the sidelines as pies slid to the edge of the fight against relegation.

He returned during the final weeks of the season to play a key role in reviving Keegan, and was very impressed by the new manager.

He said: "Kevin will try to make his own path and how he knows. It does not include things like everyone. If you remember when we were struggling, he told us that training is good.

He says: "Do not worry about results, they will come", and he was right. "

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PARIS, May 22 - Olympique Lyon look to a remarkable synthesis season with their first domestic double when they face Paris St Germain in the Coupe de France final on Saturday.

Lyon bags a record seventh consecutive league title last weekend while PSG escaped relegation in the last round of matches with a 2-1 victory at Sochaux.

Lyon have not won the Cup since 1973 and will be eager to imitate AJ Auxerre that the last team to clinch both the league title and the Cup in 1996.

Before Auxerre, only Girondins de Bordeaux (1987) and Olympique de Marseille (1989) won the double since 1980.

"A double is something you can not forget in your life, full-back Francois Clerc told Reuters.

However, he said PSG would be dangerous opponents and can play with more freedom they had in the relegation battle.

"In a way, Parisians have suffered the same kind of season that we - with a lot of stress and a happy ending," he added.

"They will not have the" Ball and Chain "they have been throughout the season."

Lyon should be almost complete with centre back Jean-Alain Boumsong recover quickly from a groin strain and striker Abdulkader Keita return to training on Thursday after being out of the team because of stomach problems.

However, a suspension for Cris means that if Boumsong should be ruled out, coach Alain Perrin would be forced to include Swiss Patrick Mueller, who has played only one league match this season.

With Switzerland plays a Euro 2008 warm-up match against Slovakia on Saturday, Mueller was asked to be released from service club.

"I talked to Coach switzerland by phone yesterday," said Perrin. "If Boumsong is good, we will liberate Mueller."

PSG, who won the League Cup in March, have been marked as cup specialists. They won the League Cup and french in 1995 and 1998, winning 10 of 13 Cup finals they have played in.

They will have to cope without goalkeeper Mickael Landreau and bid farewell to Portuguese striker Pedro Pauleta, who played his last match for the club after scoring 76 goals in 168 league matches.

"I have good feelings," said right rear PSG Bernard Mendy on the club website.

"The most important thing for us was to avoid relegation. Now that it's done, we can finish the season with the trophy, which is important for the club, for us and for the fans."

PSG hope their supporters will be on their best practices.

The club have been excluded from next season the League Cup supporters deployed a banner abuse this year finals

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PARIS, May 21 - Arsenal have made a bid for Olympique de Marseille Samir Nasri game, the player agent said Wednesday.

"We do not hurry. It is true that we are considering an offer to Arsenal, which is interesting for Samir Nasri a sporting perspective, Jean-Pierre Bernes.

"But I have also received other offers," said Bernes the southern french newspaper La Provence.

The 20-year Nasri been included in France's provisional 30-man squad for next month Euro 2008 tournament. He won seven caps, scoring two goals.

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