Cisse not going to Liverpool, says Auxerre president

FRENCH international Djibril Cisse has challenged Auxerre’s decision to block his move to Liverpool.

The Auxerre president Jean-Claude Hamel said earlier this week it was out of the question Cisse would leave in the summer. But the 22-year-old striker has reiterated his desire to move to Anfield despite being contracted to Auxerre until 2007.

Cisse, whom Liverpool believe they can sign for around £12m, said "I dream of joining this club now. Everyone needs to know that. I am strong enough to leave, I want to go and see what happens in England.

"In life you have to take risks and I know at Liverpool they want me. If I don't join them now I will be disappointed."

He added: "I have been at Auxerre for seven years now. Today if the door can be opened, if everyone can take advantage, I think the time has come to go and see someone else.

"I am 22 years old and it is essential for my evolution. The officials and the coach know my desire and point of view. I want to improve and that means joining a foreign club.

"I don't want any trial of strength, but I want people at Auxerre to understand my state of mind. I want to taste another kind of football. That kind of challenge represents a deep need," he said.

If Cisse does finally get his way to join Liverpool, he will find plenty of his compatriots around Anfield, including Houllier's new first team coach Christian Damiano, who takes over from Jacques Crevoisier, who quit earlier in the week for family reasons.

Houllier also plans to end the loan spell of Anthony Le Tallec and Florent Sinama-Pongolle at Le Havre and bring them to England for the start of pre-season training.

Damiano a former assistant manager to two France managers and also number two to Houllier when the pair plotted their 1996 European U18 Championship triumph has reiterated his respect for the Liverpool chief.

Speaking in early April, just before Fulham's visit to Liverpool in the Premiership and just after it had been announced he would leave the West Londoners along with manager Jean Tigana, Damiano said: "It was a privilege and a pleasure to work previously with Gerard and he made a massive contribution to French football at all levels."