Houllier chasing World Cup star Duff

Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier is still chasing Irish World Cup star Damien Duff - if the price is right.

Houllier - who has already signed five new players this summer - has refused to rule out more major buying before the season starts.

And in what seems to be a direct response to Blackburn boss Graeme Souness’ £20m (€32m) price tag on Irish winger Damien Duff - Anfield’s latest target - Houllier said: ‘‘We are interested in new signings but only if the price is right.

‘‘If players of quality become available then yes, we are still in the market. But if the price is not right then I am quite happy with what I already have at the club.’’

Liverpool have made two approaches for Duff, but have been denied by Blackburn’s valuation of the Republic of Ireland star.

But with a variety of players to offer in part exchange, Houllier looks determined to get his man, even though he is baulking at the asking price.

Houllier today snapped up young French goalkeeper Patrice Luzi from Monaco on a free transfer as his fifth summer capture, but whether Duff is to be the next in line clearly depends on Blackburn lowering their asking price to nearer the £10m (€16m) Liverpool are prepared to offer.

Houllier added: ‘‘It would be dishonest to deny there are not one or two players I would be interested in signing.’’

The French boss added: ‘‘We are being linked with Damien Duff, with Brett Emerton and Khalilou Fadiga, but all are just speculation.’’

Liverpool have spent close on £20m (€32m) already this summer bringing in Alou Diarra on a free from Bayern Munich, Bruno Cheyrou from Lille, Salif Diao from Sedan, £10m (€16m) striker El-Hadji Diouf from Lens and now French youngster Luzi, who has not played a league game for Monaco and was on loan to Ajaccio last season.

Houllier believes he needs a fourth choice behind Jerzy Dudek, Chris Kirkland and Pegguy Arphexad and said: ‘‘Patrice is young, he was free and there is space for improvement.’’

Liverpool fans get a chance to see at least some of Liverpool’s new players in the home friendly with Lazio tomorrow, but Houllier believes ‘‘only Cheyrou and Diouf of the new players are first team candidates at the moment’’.

Diao has already been loaned back to Sedan for six months with Houllier explaining: ‘‘I believe the competition in midfield would be too much for him at the moment.’’

And, on Diarra, the manager continued: ‘‘It’s very likely we will loan him to Le Havre for a season now, they are back in the French top flight and the experience will do him good.’’

Houllier will probably be without Emile Heskey (hamstring) and Steven Gerrard (thigh) for the clash with the Italian giants.

England midfielder Gerrard, who missed the World Cup, had a scan on the injury on returning from the club’s Swiss training camp.

So all Anfield eyes will be on Senegal striker Diouf, who scored the equaliser in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Wolfsburg.

Houllier said: ‘‘As has become clear, we signed him before the World Cup. It was a gamble but his fee would have been much higher if we had waited until after the tournament.

‘‘He had a tremendous World Cup and has fitted in superbly with the squad here already, as has Cheyrou, who has great skill, a fine left foot, great touch and vision.’’