Sochaux ponder Le Tallec move

Liverpool misfit Anthony Le Tallec could be heading back to France on a permanent basis after it was made clear he has no future at Anfield.

The 22-year-old midfielder spent last season on loan to Sochaux, and the French club have now confirmed that they are considering meeting Reds manager Rafael Benitez's £2.7million asking price.

Sochaux chairman Jean-Claude Plessis, who earlier in the summer claimed his club would not pursue the player, said: "Indeed we are thinking about a permanent deal. Anthony is a very talented player who has been very fair with us last season. If the conditions are acceptable, why not sign him?"

Le Tallec returned to Liverpool's Melwood training ground this summer hoping to rekindle his Anfield career. But Benitez promptly sent him to train with the reserves and it is believed he has been given a week off.

He did not travel with the second string to Holland on Tuesday for the four-team tournament next weekend in Amsterdam.

Benitez could have allowed Le Tallec to train with the senior squad this week ahead of their own trip to play two games in Rotterdam at the weekend, but instead opted to give the player time off.

Liverpool have offered Le Tallec to clubs in the UK and Europe, and he has been linked with Birmingham, Fulham and West Ham.

After being signed by former boss Gerard Houllier from Le Havre - along with Florent Sinama-Pongolle - in 2002, in a joint deal which was worth up to £7m, Le Tallec also had an unsatisfactory loan spell at Sunderland.

But the French Under-21 international has never fulfilled the promise he showed as a teenager, which earned him high praise in a series of UEFA and FIFA youth championships.