Free agent Yoann Gourcuff must decide soon, says Montpellier boss

Paris: Montpellier coach Rolland Courbis wants Yoann Gourcuff to decide on his future as the French midfielder ponders whether to join the Ligue 1 club.

The 29-year-old -- who has 31 caps for France -- was released by Lyon at the end of last season and has an offer on the table from Montpellier and has been linked to other top-flight French sides.

"The ball is in his (Gourcuff`s) court," Courbis said on Wednesday.

"Whatever his choice, there will be an important step, he needs to meet with Loulou (Laurent Nicollin, Montpellier president), and discuss a financial plan, so we are very far from a deal at the moment.

"If in the meantime, he decides to sign for Guingamp or Rennes, we wish him good luck, and we hope that it is not a bad move.

"Everything has a time limit though," added Courbis.

Gourcuff had an injury-hit five years at the Stade Gerland after moving to Lyon from Bordeaux for a fee of 22 million euros (£15.3m; $23.9 million dollars) in August 2010.

He began his career with Rennes -- who are said to be interested in taking Gourcuff back to Brittany -- before a move to Italian giants AC Milan in 2006.

He spent two years at the San Siro before switching back to France with Bordeaux, winning the Ligue 1 title in his first season under then manager Laurent Blanc.