Cisse remains a Marseille target

Marseille coach Jean Fernandez still hopes to prise France striker Djibril Cisse away from Liverpool during the winter break.

President Papa Diouf has made little secret of the fact Cisse is one of their main targets and is aiming to land the former Auxerre player on an initial six-month loan deal when the transfer window opens.

Marseille have struggled for success up front and with the African Nations Cup approaching – Senegal striker Mamadou Niang is their second top league scorer with four goals – Fernandez hopes Cisse can be brought on board.

“I am not in the managers’ confidence but I know that we really need a striker and I would be very, very happy to have Cisse, who is a great player with fantastic potential,” Fernandez told television channel Canal Plus.

“It would be an honour to have him with us.”

Cisse, who has scored nine goals in 27 appearances for France, has struggled to tie down a regular starting place at Liverpool this season, finding himself behind Fernando Morientes and Peter Crouch in the pecking order.

The 24-year-old was again on the bench for yesterday’s 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough.