Liverpool appoint Bosman lawyer in Cisse probe

Liverpool have appointed the ‘Bosman lawyer’ after a French probe was launched into possible corruption in a number of transfer dealings, including Djibril Cisse’s move to Anfield.

The Reds paid Auxerre £14m (€20.5m) for Cisse 18 months ago but now the deal is under scrutiny as the investigation probes whether money may have gone missing, although Liverpool have not been implicated in any way.

They have hired Jean-Louis Dupont, who represented Jean-Marc Bosman and prompted the overhaul of the transfer system in Europe, to ensure they have not been the victims of a major fraud.

Dupont will probe the French investigation, which involves nine different clubs, as Liverpool try to account for the club record fee they paid for Cisse.

Dupont said: “Liverpool could have been a victim of fraud.

“They want to take a practical approach to the issue.”

Chief executive Rick Parry said: “We have been alerted to the fact there is an investigation and we want to become a party to it so we have access to whatever information is available.

“We are not suggesting anything untoward has taken place, but the fact there is an investigation means it is prudent for us to know exactly what is happening.

“We want to ensure our position is protected and be kept informed if we have been victims here.

“If there has been any wrongdoing we want to know about it.”