France international Yann M'Vila sparked transfer rumours on Saturday after he was spotted in the away end at the Merseyside derby.

M'Vila has long been linked with a move to Liverpool and talk of a January transfer increased when pictures of the Rubin Kazan midfielder posing with fans circulated on Twitter.

However, Reds fans convinced M'Vila will become a Liverpool player in January may be left disappointed as it seems rather than watching his future club, M'Vila was merely in the city visiting childhood friend Mamadou Sakho.

Posting a picture of the pair holding up Sakho's Liverpool shirt, M'Vila said on Facebook: "Thank you to Mamadou Sakho for his invitation. I have taken a great deal of pleasure to come see this derby between Everton and Liverpool. A great game of football!

"I'm going back with the jersey of Steven Gerrard, one of my favorite players. Mamad thank you again brother!"

Having started his career with French club Rennes, M'Vila had been strongly linked with a switch to the Premier League in previous transfer windows but instead signed for Russian side Rubin Kazan for £9.6million last January.

The 23-year-old picked a perfect game to attend, witnessing one of the most entertaining Merseyside derbies of the Premier League era as rivals Everton and Liverpool drew 3-3.

Substitute Daniel Sturridge scored a late equaliser for Brendan Rodgers' side after Belgian frontman Romelu Lukaku appeared to have won the game for the Toffees.

Source: Daily Mail