Soccer: Cisse ‘will massacre all the English defences’
Cisse, who is contracted to Auxerre until June 2006, has been a long-term target for Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier who is keen to team him up with Michael Owen.
And Hamel is adamant a deal will be finalised, with Auxerre powerless to match the money on offer at Anfield.
“Djibril will play in a great European club next campaign, this is 100%,” Hamel said in Paris yesterday.
“This is excellent for Djibril’s career. He gave a lot to Auxerre and this is good for him.”
Auxerre coach Guy Roux revealed Liverpool were ready to pay up to £13.9million for Cisse.
“This is a huge and realistic sum,” said Roux, who also claimed Cisse travelled to Liverpool at the start of the week to visit the club’s facilities and pass his medical.
Like Hamel, Roux is convinced Liverpool are the right club for Cisse, who he believes, will be a great success in England.
“This is an excellent choice, probably the best he could make,” Roux said.
“He will probably be a first-team member fast and I truly think his game will pair extremely well with that of (Michael) Owen’s.
“This is simple, I am convinced he will massacre all the English defences.”
Liverpool received three more pieces of good news in the run up to today’s Premiership match with Aston Villa at Anfield.
Michael Owen will start for the first time in three months, while the Reds’ goalkeeping crisis has been solved.
Southampton’s Paul Jones has joined on a one-month loan after injuries to Chris Kirkland and Jerzy Dudek, with the Wales international set to make his debut against Villa.
And a further boost for Liverpool came when referee Steve Dunn admitted he was wrong to send El-Hadji Diouf off against Chelsea, rescinding his second yellow and preventing a one-match suspension.
Owen’s comeback is a genuine relief for Houllier.
“It has been a tough time for him. People under-estimate how strong Michael is.
“He coped with the injury, and a period not scoring goals, he coped with having his private life in the media, and he can cope now.
“He is mentally strong and very focused and cannot wait to play.”
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