Bolton in race to sign Cisse, says agent

Jun 23 2007 by Ben Thornley, Liverpool Daily Post

Collingwood eager to make his mark

LIVERPOOL’S hopes of securing a transfer fee for Djibril Cisse received a boost after the player’s agent confirmed Bolton Wanderers have entered the race to sign the striker.

Cisse – a £14million capture from Auxerre in 2004 – is still eager to make his loan move at Marseilles permanent, with the French side having secured Champions League football for next term.

However, the flamboyant forward’s chances of extending his stay at the club he supported as a boy looked to have diminished with the Ligue One outfit’s reluctance to meet the pre-arranged £8m asking price.

Liverpool have told Marseilles, who received £17.5m from Bayern Munich for winger Franck Ribery, they will only accept a permanent deal for Cisse, and will not countenance a further loan.

With the two clubs unable to reach an agreement, it has opened the door for Bolton manager Sammy Lee to pounce.

“It is true that there has been some contact with Bolton,” said Cisse’s representative Ranko Stojic.

“I have met up with Sammy Lee on one occasion. He impressed me, not just as a coach, but as a person.”

Stojic added: “He is a fantastic man. We are meeting Liverpool next week to find out what they want to do.”

Bolton are also believed to favour an arrangement similar to the one which took El Hadji Diouf to the Reebok, but Benitez will now be hopeful that Bolton’s interest will force the French club’s hand, as he looks to bolster his summer war chest.

Marseilles remain confident of negotiating a reduced fee for the France international over the course of the next week.

“About Djibril Cisse, the negotiations should be finished early next week,” said their club president Pape Diouf

“We would prefer a loan but Liverpool want a definitive transfer.

“We are in talks about a transfer fee inferior to 12million euros (£8m). I have a lot of hope.”

One player Benitez looks certain to resist the temptation to cash in on, however, is keeper Scott Carson – the subject of a £3.5m bid from Aston Villa on Thursday.

The Spaniard yesterday moved to assure the England Under 21 international, who enjoyed a spell on loan at relegated Charlton, that he still has a future at Anfield.

And Benitez has now challenged the former Leeds man to fight for a first-team place with Pepe Reina.

“I was speaking to Scott recently and I told him he will be part of our first team squad next season,” Benitez said.

“He must fight with Pepe Reina now for a starting place. We knew when we fought off Chelsea to sign him he was a talented goalkeeper.

“He got some good experience last season and now he is coming back to us.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool have confirmed two further pre-season friendlies against Wrexham and Crewe Alexandra.

Benitez’s men will travel to Wrexham's Racecourse Ground on July 7 before facing Crewe at Gresty Road on July 14. Both games kick-off at 3pm.