Marseille president confirms striker Ayew's exit

French football club Olympique de Marseille president Vincent Labrune confirmed that Ghana international Andre Ayew will be leaving the Ligue 1 club this summer.

The 25-year-old forward, whose contract is running out after this season, has been widely speculated to move since it became clear Marseille could not tie him down due to their finances, reports Xinhua.

"We can't keep Ayew. He is a very important player for OM but we can't offer him the kind of money English clubs can offer," Labrune said on Friday.

"The French financial system is complicated and we can't offer him an equivalent salary to what he can earn in England.

"We can't ask Ayew, who we love and is an icon of our team, to accept a lower salary," added the boss.

"Unfortunately he is going to quit the club and we hope he has the great career that he deserves in England or somewhere else."

As the 2015 African Cup of Nations top scorer is set to part with the Stade Velodrome, Serie A side AS Roma and Inter Milan together with English Premierships' Newcastle United FC, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Swansea have been reported to be chasing him.