France goalkeeper Gregory Coupet claims to have turned down an offer from West Ham before penning a new three-year contract with the French champions.

The 34-year-old has been with Lyon for a decade, helping the club to a record six consecutive league titles since his arrival from St Etienne.

However, Coupet says that he was close to leaving his homeland for England before opting to stay put.

He told France Football: "Last weekend I was leaving. I believe Lyon officials understood it.

"I had a proposition from a foreign club and I was tempted by that experience, even if it would have been less prestigious than Olympique Lyonnais.

"It was an opportunity to discover a new league, a new world. Sometimes, it is almost easier to leave than to stay."