Chamakh resigned to Bordeaux stay

Chamakh expects to stay at Bordeaux for another season

Marouane Chamakh is resigned to staying at Bordeaux despite claiming he was recently approached by West Ham.

But Bordeaux are believed to have stood in the way of the Moroccan striker's wish to move to the Premier League sides such as Sunderland and Arsenal.

And Chamakh, 25, does not now envisage leaving Bordeaux before the transfer window closes on 1 September.

"It's not shut but I'm pessimistic about my chances," he is quoted as telling French newspaper L'Equipe.

"West Ham are the latest to come in. It's only in the past week that they have shown an interest. But I am seeing what happened with Arsenal all over again - the problem is Bordeaux. So it is very tricky."

I had to rediscover my smile and the pleasure of playing

Marouane Chamakh

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is not willing to meet Bordeaux's valuation of Chamakh, whose contract will expire next year.

Sunderland, meanwhile, had no chance of signing the striker with Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc insisting he would only enter talks with a club he estimates are bigger than the French outfit.

"As much as I managed to understand the attitude of the club about refusing Sunderland, I was surprised there hadn't been an arrangement with Arsenal, even if it was a small offer. It is Arsenal after all," Chamakh added.

"So, there I was disappointed. I am still, but I have moved on. I had to rediscover my smile and the pleasure of playing."

Chamakh claims he will commit himself to Bordeaux for the rest of the season if he has not found a new club by Monday.

"I am going to wait until Monday to announce that I will stay," he said.