Gamba Osaka striker Masashi Oguro expressed his eagerness Thursday to join Grenoble after the French second-division club made an offer for the services of the Japan international.
"I want to test myself (with Grenoble) and I want the deal done after settling matters with Gamba," said Oguro, who has also obtained an offer for a multiyear contract from the newly crowned J. League champions.
Oguro added that joining a second-division side prior to next summer's World Cup finals will not affect his future career.
"It doesn't matter at all for me. I believe it's going to be a plus in many ways," he said.
Oguro was instrumental in Gamba's successful J. League campaign by forming a striking partnership with Brazilian Araujo, the league's top scorer with 33 goals, while scoring 16 times himself.
The 25-year-old also helped Japan book their place in the World Cup finals in Germany and impressed in the Confederations Cup in June with his goals against Greece and Brazil.
Grenoble are owned by Japanese mobile content provider Index Corp., which bought the team in October last year.