Marseille's coach, Didier Deschamps, has moved to end speculation over his future by extending his contract by a year until June 2012, reports The Guardian. The Marseille president, Jean-Claude Dassier, who revealed at the weekend that Liverpool had contacted him over Deschamps, told the club's official website: "I am very happy that Didier Deschamps has signed for another year."

Deschamps, who has been at the Stade Vélodrome since 2009 after spells in charge of Juventus and Monaco, admitted he was "flattered" by the interest from Liverpool, but wanted to continue his work at Marseille.

"It makes me very happy," he said. "It is not a financial question that I leave OM. After the season that we have experienced, there is still work to do. A great club asked me. I'm very flattered but when I start somewhere... If I ask for respect from my players, the least I can do is to be comparable in my commitment to the club. I owe it to the OM. I agree and I respect that commitment."

Dassier revealed at the weekend he received a call from Liverpool's executive director, Christian Purslow, last Thursday. "I kindly indicated to him that there wasn't the slightest chance for him to pinch our coach. Even in his dreams," Dassier said.