CISSE: I WILL BE ANFIELD BOUND

Auxerre's French international striker Djibril Cisse has claimed in a leading football magazine that he is almost certain to join Liverpool after this season.

Auxerre coach Guy Roux has tried to hold on to his much-coveted hitman, but the 22-year-old Cisse, under contract until June 2006, has said in an interview with France Football that he has a verbal agreement with Liverpool's French manager Gerard Houllier that he will join them after the 2003-4 campaign.

"Things have become clearer now," Cisse said. "Guy Roux knows that I want to go to Liverpool and he will not prevent me from doing so in the future.

"He knows that I have been with Auxerre for eight years and that my time to go has come.

"If I want to progress I need to leave soon, but I want my transfer to be made in the best conditions with both parties.

"When I leave Auxerre I want to feel happy and feel that I have accomplished my duties.

"However before leaving, I have a season to complete. To leave Auxerre and go to Liverpool, I have to deserve it."

Cisse has been chased by leading clubs and for good reason.

A member of France's last World Cup squad, he has been prolific in France's Ligue 1 which has produced some of the world's top strikers in recent years.

Cisse has been on the radar screen of Europe's top sides ever since the 2001-2 campaign, when he scored 22 goals in 29 league games.

Last season he dropped off slightly with 14 in 33 games, but interest has not diminished.

If Liverpool do acquire Cisse it would be no surprise, given Houllier's fondness for players from the French league.

This summer, Houllier brought French Under-21 internationals Anthony Le Tallec and Florent Sinama-Pongolle from Le Havre.

Senegalese star El Hadji Diouf and former Lille player Bruno Cheyrou were among the French-based contingent who joined the previous year.

"I already love Liverpool, this is the club where I want to play later," said Cisse.

"Gerard Houllier has been following me for ages, he likes me and I have the same feelings for him. I want to show him that he is right to trust me.

"I also love the fans and the stadium where we played last year in the UEFA Cup.

"I gave my word to that club and I will respect it. My choice is made.

"Unless something big happens between now and then I know where I will play, and this is Liverpool.

"But for now my present is with Auxerre and I am concentrating on it."

Auxerre are currently struggling in the lower half of Ligue 1 with Cisse having scored only twice in six matches.

PA