Roux wants to keep Liverpool targets

Auxerre coach Guy Roux has made clear he wants to keep his star players Djibril Cisse and Jean-Alain Boumsong who have both become Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier’s targets for next campaign.

Houllier, a close friend of Roux, yesterday revealed he is planning a meeting with the Auxerre boss at the end of the month about striker Cisse and defender Boumsong.

Cisse, 21, grabbed the Liverpool manager’s attention last season but insisted on his desire to remain with the French side to gain more experience. He is linked to the club until June 2007.

Boumsong’s talent meanwhile broke out this campaign thanks to his successful pairing in central defence with Philippe Mexes. The young stopper is contracted with Auxerre until June 2004.

Both men have also become regulars with the France national team in the past few months – but Roux does not seem ready to let them go.

The Auxerre boss explained: “There are some contracts that are running and have to be respected, this is not the right time to talk about transfers.

“It is true that every time a season ends it is not unusual to see Auxerre players linked with moves abroad, it’s happened before.

“This is the case for Cisse and Boumsong, as well as Kapo (France striker Olivier) and Mexes (France defender Philippe).”