Marcello Lippi has denied he's been in talks with Lyon after being linked with a summer move to the Ligue 1 outfit as a possible replacement for Claude Puel.

The 61-year-old tactician has been out of work since Italy's failed 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa.

But, with Lyon struggling following their 2-2 draw with Nice on Sunday, a result which leaves them in fourth and out of the Champions League zone, speculation over Lippi was heightened.

However, the Italian has moved quickly to quash the speculation.

"I have never received offers from Lyon and I have never been contacted. Also, it's not nice to speak about a role there as they already have a coach in place," he told Mag 2, as reported by Tuttomercatoweb.com.

Last week Lippi was linked with Olympique Marseille by France Football who claimed his arrival could be sparked if Didier Deschamps' side, currently second in Ligue 1 behind Lille, fails to win a trophy.