Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse looks set to finally be
making his move to Olympic Marseille a permanent one. Marseille’s official
website is reporting that they have now agreed a deal in principle with
Liverpool.
Cisse was set to leave Anfield for £8m last summer until he
broke his leg on international duty for France. Instead he spent the season on
loan at Marseilles, and they were given the option to sign him. They did not
take up their option, but by the time the season came to an end they realised
they did want to try and keep him. The past weeks have been spent with
Marseilles making efforts to persuade Liverpool to drop their £6m valuation, or
to even allow Cisse to spend another year in France on loan.
Cisse had been Liverpool’s record signing until the arrival
of Fernando Torres earlier this week. He cost the club £14m but never got to
play for the man who’d signed him. Gerard Houllier had set the deal up 12
months before Cisse arrived, and by the time he did Houllier had left the club,
replaced by Rafa Benítez.
The news follows the earlier story from Marseilles that they
have signed free-agent Bolo Zenden. Zenden was a part of Liverpool’s Champions
League Final side in May, but had been told by boss Rafa Benítez that he wouldn’t
be part of the plans for this season. Zenden’s contracted ran out on June 30th.
He signed for two years for “l’OM” and will wear the number 10 shirt.