Cisse would welcome chance to play alongside Owen

FRENCH striker Djibril Cisse would welcome the chance to test himself against Premiership defences in the Liverpool attack alongside Michael Owen.

Cisse, who scored 14 goals for French Cup finalists Auxerre this season, has been linked with many clubs but said yesterday that Liverpool was his first-choice.

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier and Auxerre coach Guy Roux are long-time friends and were reported to have talked about a transfer.

“That’s probably happened,” Cisse said.

And although his hometown club Olympique Marseille have expressed an interest, he plumped for Liverpool.

“What’s sure is I’d like to go to Liverpool,” he said.

But he said he was aware of the risks. “There’s always the danger of failure, but it’s only by playing abroad you can test yourself. If things don’t go all right I’ll bounce back.”

Houllier was believed to see the 21-year-old Cisse as a replacement for England striker Emile Heskey.

However, Liverpool fans will be mindful Houllier’s swoop into the French club market last summer for Senegal World Cup striker El-Hadji Diouf was less than successful.

And whether Cisse would be able to cope with the Premiership hype is another matter because he says he is already tired of the relatively low-key media attention in France.

“Sometimes all the media attention gets to you. Cisse, this, Cisse that. And you’re punished if ever you miss a goal.

“It’s a lack of respect to my team-mates. They put their share into the job, too.”

Meanwhile, Real Madrid have tabled €12 million in a last ditch bid to prise Arsene Wenger away from Highbury, according to reports.

Sources close to the club claimed a deal is in place over three years. The ABC newspaper said it was the fifth time Wenger had met Madrid officials and insiders claim the club are waiting on the Frenchman to make a decision.

Arsenal insist they are “not perturbed” by rumours that Wenger held talks with Real Madrid club president Florentino Perez, director of sport Jorge Valdano in a private room at the Plaza Athenee Hotel in Paris last week.

Del Bosque, yet to be offered a new deal for next season, told the As daily he was not surprised to read that Madrid had been in contact with Wenger.

“It’s normal. But I’m confident of signing a new deal,” he said.

Del Bosque has twice landed the Champions League and La Liga once since taking over from John Toshack three years ago, but he did not deny he faced the sack if Real failed to clinch the title this year.

“I am not a beginner at this,” Del Bosque added. “The (newspaper) reports may be true or false, although I doubt if they (the club) will have talked to Wenger.

“It doesn’t bother me, though, and I will just continue working normally until the end of the season and do all I can to help Real win the league title.

“What is important are the interests of Real Madrid,” said Del Bosque. “Whether it is me or someone else in charge, Real need an efficient coach who can run the squad well and who is capable of winning as many titles as possible.”