Marseille still keen on Cisse swoop

Marseille president Pape Diouf has reiterated his desire to bring Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse to the Stade Velodrome during the transfer window.

The France striker has struggled to hold down a regular first team place at Anfield in recent weeks with manager Rafael Benitez instead preferring a strike duo of Peter Crouch and Fernando Morientes despite Cisse being the club’s top scorer.

Diouf claims the 24-year-old is interested in joining the Ligue 1 club and is hopeful they can lure him to the Mediterranean coast on a loan deal in January.

“Cisse would be the ideal player for us to strengthen the team. Contacts exist and we are looking into a six-month loan deal with an option to extend if it works out well,” he told L’Est Republicain newspaper.

“Djibril is not happy with the amount he is playing at Liverpool. Marseille is in his heart and he has clearly expressed a desire to join us.”