Everton have NOT been contacted by French First Division side Marseille over the availability of Ghanaian star Alex Nyarko.

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that the midfielder is becoming increasingly unsettled with life on Merseyside and may be about to quit Goodison after just five months.

Despite having an indifferent start to his Premiership career, the 27-year-old, with his continental style of football has produced a number of important performances following a very impressive pre-season campaign.

Accra born Nyarko is well thought of in Le Championnat and Marseille boss Javier Clemente could be persuaded to dip into the struggling French outfits transfer coffers to try and entice the former Lens star back.

The Blues acquired Nyarko for ?4.5 million during the summer and any offer received would have to at least match that, if Blues Boss Walter Smith had any interest in letting the player leave.

"We have not had any contact at all so I think any speculation with regard to that situation is rather premature," Walter told the website.

"The player has been down with a virus for the last couple of weeks and hasn't been training either. Now whether that has added to the speculation that surrounds him I cannot tell.

"He is without doubt a good footballer and at the present stage of this season we would be glad to have him back."

Nyarko has rejoined training with the rest of Everton's squad and will return to the squad for next Monday's Premiership clash at Sunderland.

Walter added: "We have been well short of midfield players in recent weeks and we are just glad to have Alex back training with us and he should be back in our squad for the game next week."