Marseille have admitted that they would not be able to afford to bring in Leandro Damiao at Internacional's current asking price.
Tottenham Hotspur have been strongly linked with the forward and Marseille were understood to be very keen as well.
However, OM could now look elsewhere with sporting director Jose Anigo hinting that French targets are a priority.
"We know [Damiao] very well, but there are financial aspects we cannot ignore," Sky Sports News quotes Anigo as saying. "We are following him but it is too expensive so far. The team needs to be attractive, getting reinforcements notably in attack with more speed on the flanks and ability to dribble.
"On a financial level we will be more at ease than last season, but we didn't win the lottery. Our priority is to try to sign French players. We need some youthfulness in the group, players with big desire to win titles.
"We would like to find explosive players on the wings, one defensive midfielder, an additional left-back and another centre-back. If Andre-Pierre Gignac will remain we should not sign a striker. We are eager to keep all of our key players."
Marseille have guaranteed second position in Ligue 1 this season.
