TROTTERS CONSIDER CISSE

Bolton Wanderers are being linked with a move for Liverpool striker Djbril Cisse who looks set to leave Anfield in the summer.

The French international has failed to impress during a season-long loan spell with Marseille and is set to return to Anfield at the end of the season with his career in limbo.

Cisse has spent this season on-loan with Olympique Marseille, but hasn't done enough to convince management to make his deal permanent.

Olympique Marseille president Pape Diouf admits they're yet to discuss a permanent deal with Liverpool for the striker.

Cisse is enduring a difficult period at LOM and making an outright £8 million switch appears slim. Last night, Diouf, said the decision on whether to take up the option of buying Cisse "has still not been discussed".

Cisse has been booed by LOM fans in recent weeks and could only make Albert Emon's bench for the 4-1 victory over Lille at the weekend, with various reports stating that the French club will not pay the €12million (£8.2million) fee needed to make his stay permanent.

However, former Marseille striker Jean-Pierre Papin has defended the contribution of Cisse, stating the on-loan Liverpool man is still struggling to hit peak form after his serious injury.

"Don't forget that this boy has suffered a six-month break twice over," Papin told L'Equipe.

"Normally, when you suffer such injuries you need one year to come back to peak form, but nobody says it.

"He lacks a little confidence - the last second, the last gesture, everything that makes a goalscorer - but he hasn't lost it.

"It is simple, he doesn't play with 100 per cent of his talent, maybe 70 per cent.

"People try to demolish him, that is unfair."

Frank Ribery, a colleague at OM and with Les Bleus, feels Cisse just needs time.

"It is difficult for him," said the attacking midfielder.

He came here with the intention of reviving his career but scoring is never easy.

"He is lacking playing-time after his serious injury. We must wait, give him a bit of time - I want to tell him to keep his confidence."

The striker wants to stay in England and, according to reports in France, Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce is lining up a summer raid for the player as he is keen to link him up with Nicolas Anelka and El-Hadji Diouf.

Liverpool will not be able to get anywhere near the £13million they forked out for Cisse and if Allardyce can pick him up on the cheap, like he did with Diouf, then a deal could be on.

Allardyce is also hoping he will be able to offer the striker Uefa Cup football and if he wants to stay in England, a short switch to the Reebok Stadium may appeal.

Editor's Notes

After Djibril Cisse's finest honour with Liverpool in Istanbul, it seems that his career is fast heading downhill. Once a feared and prolific striker in the French Ligue with Auxerre, he has been reduced to a joke by the fans.

Not in the good books of Rafa Benitez, it seems he was sent out on a season-long loan to Olympique Marseille with an option of a permanent signing. But he arrived with a heavy shoulder of expectation which he failed to live up with. He has also failed to endear to the Marseille fans with his sometimes lazy and whining attitude.

It seems that Cisse is destined to make his return to the EPL but I reckon Rafa would be open to any offers for the misfiring striker.

Sam Allardyce has stated his interest for the player but only at the right price. I believe that Big Sam is looking for a rockbottom bargain from Liverpool. Allardyce has been reknowned of resurrecting the career for players on a downward spiral. He is also said to be keen to linked up Cisse and fellow French International, former Liverpool striker Nikolas Anelka and another former reds infamously labelled by Gerard Houllier as the 'spitting camel', El-Hadji Diouf.

Allardyce seems to have a fixation over former Liverpool players. He actually signed Dietmar Hamann only for the player to later denounce the transfer. Bolton has also been linked with Robbie Fowler and Sami Hyypia.

I imagine that Liverpool would want the Cisse episode to be settled quickly and they might just negotiate an offer that Bolton will not refuse, probably in the range of £6 million.