France set to call up young star

Auxerre's goalscoring prodigy Djibril Cisse has denied reports linking him with a move to Arsenal, saying he is happy to stay in France.

The 20-year-old this season became the youngest player since Nancy's Roger Piantoni in 1951 to top the goalscoring table in the top flight.

His 22 goals took him level with Girondins Bordeaux's Portuguese international Pedro Pauleta.

That striking prowess could well win Cisse a call-up to Roger Lemerre's 23-man squad for the World Cup, and has led to speculation linking him with several top European clubs.

But Cisse, who has also been linked with Liverpool, denied rumours he had been approached by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

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"It's rubbish. I'm staying at Auxerre," Cisse told Monday's l'Equipe sports daily.

"So far I've only known the Champions League through television. I will play it with Auxerre."

The Burgundy team, unfancied at the start of the season, finished third in the first division to qualify for the Champions League preliminary round.