FAMILY fortunes have left Sebastien Perez hoping that Marseille can provide him with a route back to his native France.

The former French under-21 star, signed by Roy Hodgson from Bastia for £3 million in summer, admitted today that it would be better for him - and most importantly his family - if he was to return home.

And Marseille, who have already expressed an interest in the Blackburn Rovers midfielder, could provide the best option, after Perez's wife and 11-month-old daughter have found it difficult to settle in England.

"It would be better for my family to go back to France, because I have had a lot of problems with my daughter," he said.

"She has been sick and it is very difficult for me to concentrate on playing football.

"It is disappointing because, if it was just football, the relationship between me and the supporters is okay.

"But your family must be happy and comfortable. It is very hard for me, not because of football points but family circumstances.

"I always think about her and I see she is not very well. If my daughter is not well, it is not a good situation for me."

Perez was a regular in the side earlier in the season until he had to have a knee operation in the wake of Rovers' UEFA Cup tie in Lyon, where he scored his second goal for the club.

And he admits that his absence and the subsequent departure of Hodgson have not helped him establish himself in the Premiership.

Since Brian Kidd's appointment as manager, Rovers have signed another right-sided player in Keith Gillespie which seems to have left Perez as third choice behind the new man and Damien Johnson.

"Yes, the injury has been a problem too and things have been worse since then," he said. "There have been a lot of changes at the club and it has not been a good thing for me." Paris St Germain are also believed to be checking on Perez but Marseille are the only ones to have made an inquiry - via a third party - and, in any case, they would provide an ideal move for the player.

"I don't know about interest from Paris but Marseille would be better for me," he explained. "I have family and friends near to Marseille."

But Perez is also aware that Rovers have invested a lot of money in his talents and he accepts that the Ewood club would be looking for a similar fee if he was to leave.

"The meeting has to be between Blackburn and Marseille," he said.

"And if Blackburn can get their money back and if they can find a deal then it would be good for me.

"I understand that everybody must be happy with a deal."

Marseille, of course, were very prominent in the dealings when Rovers signed Perez from Bastia.

They also wanted the player, as did other clubs including Milan and Manchester United.

But Perez opted for England and had promised Hodgson that, if he came to the Premiership, it would be to join Rovers.

Now it seems that the French giants offer the best way out of the present problems for the player who has made it clear he would welcome it if they stepped up their interest.

Rovers would certainly not stand in his way but they would, understandably, insist that they did not lose a lot of money on any subsequent transfer.

As it stands, Perez's chances of getting back into the side on a regular basis look to be very limited indeed.

Latest Double Your Money Club £500 winner is Mrs Bland (Darwen), number 947A.

There are still tickets available for Ewood's Boxing Day clash with title challengers Aston Villa (kick-off 6pm), which is set to attract one of the biggest crowds of the season.

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