Free agent Gourcuff must decide soon, says Montpellier boss

The 29-year-old -- who has 31 caps for France -- was released by Lyon at the end of last season and has an offer on the table from Montpellier and has been linked to other top-flight French sides.

"The ball is in his (Gourcuff's) court," Courbis said on Wednesday.

"Whatever his choice, there will be an important step, he needs to meet with Loulou (Laurent Nicollin, Montpellier president), and discuss a financial plan, so we are very far from a deal at the moment.

"If in the meantime, he decides to sign for Guingamp or Rennes, we wish him good luck, and we hope that it is not a bad move.

"Everything has a time limit though," added Courbis.

Gourcuff had an injury-hit five years at the Stade Gerland after moving to Lyon from Bordeaux for a fee of 22 million euros (£15.3m; $23.9 million dollars) in August 2010.

He began his career with Rennes -- who are said to be interested in taking Gourcuff back to Brittany -- before a move to Italian giants AC Milan in 2006.

He spent two years at the San Siro before switching back to France with Bordeaux, winning the Ligue 1 title in his first season under then manager Laurent Blanc.