Auxerre president Gerard Bourgoin confirmed yesterday that his club are interested in signing their former striker Djibril Cisse on loan from Italian side Lazio.
“Djibril is one of the players we admire at Auxerre, which is where he was formed, and we know his qualities as a striker,” said Bourgoin.
“We’re struggling for goals and we’re thinking about this solution. We’ve looked at other great players apart from him, in France and abroad, who have scored lots of goals, are internationals, but who are having trouble at their clubs.
“Recently, Djibril admitted that he dreamed of getting back into the France squad and returning to the French league with Marseille or Auxerre, where he’s already played. And if he had to choose, it’d probably be Auxerre.
“He’s held out a branch — not a telegraph pole, but it’s clear that we’ve responded to it. Nothing’s been done for the time being. Lazio are not loaning or selling.”
Cisse, 30, came through Auxerre’s youth system and was the top scorer in Ligue 1 for the club in 2002 (22 goals) and 2004 (26 goals).
In total, he scored 70 goals in four seasons with Auxerre before leaving to join Liverpool, where he won the Champions League in 2005.
He joined Lazio from Panathinaikos last summer but after starting their first six games of the season, he has found himself on the substitutes bench in recent weeks.
If the deal goes through, Cisse will join Kenya’s Harambee Stars striker Dennis Oliech in the Auxerre.
In Scotland, Celtic legend Billy McNeill lashed out at trouble-making supporters yesterday after the club was left facing fresh disciplinary action from UEFA.
European football’s governing body opened proceedings against the Glasgow giants for the second time in two months after supporters displayed an offensive banner and let off a firework during a Europa League game in Udinese last week.
Former skipper and manager McNeill on Tuesday voiced his dismay at the unruly Hoops fans who he said were tarnishing the club’s reputation in Europe.
“This has left me hurt and disappointed,” McNeill told The Scottish Sun. “For generations, Celtic fans have had a great record in Europe.
“If these people have ruined everything for everyone then the club has to cut them out and get them away. Because God knows what will happen to the club if it’s allowed to continue.”
A section of Celtic’s travelling support in Italy held aloft a two-part banner which insulted UEFA, days after the club were fined about £12,700 for “illicit chanting” involving pro-IRA songs at a Europa League game.
Several flares were also let off and one was thrown on to the pitch-side track as Celtic crashed out of the tournament following the 1-1 draw against Udinese.
