Sammy Has Striker Alternatives

By Mark Heys
June 23 2007

Former Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United striker Fredi Kanoute could be lined up by Bolton Wanderers manager Sammy Lee if he misses out on the signing of Liverpool front man Djibril Cisse.

Lee has met up with Cisse's agent Ranko Stojic and he is hopeful that a deal can be struck for the player who cost Liverpool a club record £14 million when moving from Auxerre in 2004.

Leading French club Olympique Marseille are also in the running to sign Cisse after he spent the whole of the 2006-2007 season on loan at the Stade Velodrome.

Stojic told the Manchester Evening News that he will meet with Liverpool next week to find out whether they will sell or loan Cisse this summer, although morning reports now claim that the flambouyant goalgetter could be used as makeweight in the Reds bid to land Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid.

"It is true that there has been some contact with Bolton, I have met up with Sammy Lee on one occasion. He impressed me, not just as a coach, but as a person.

"He is a fantastic man. We are meeting Liverpool next week to find out what they want to do." said Stojic

If Bolton miss out on Cisse then Mali international Kanoute could be an option after re-igniting his career in the Spanish La Liga with UEFA Cup winners Sevilla.

Kanoute's agent Christophe Magoui says that there has been interest from the Wanderers, Newcastle United and Portsmouth, although a fee of £6.7 million has been mentioned and this may just be out of the Trotters reach.

Magoui says that he is yet to receive a bid for the 29-year old who is keen on making the return to England where he spent six years.

"We have interest from the three Premiership clubs, but have not had a firm bid from any as of yet. Fredi wants to leave Sevilla and his first choice destination is England and the Premiership. The cost will be £6.7m, but so far it is just interest."

One striker heading out of the Reebok Stadium could be Ricardo Vaz-Te. The 20-year old is currently starring for Portugal in the European U21 championships this summer and only last week stated his desire to play for hometown club Sporting Lisbon.

Premiership new boys Derby County are also rumoured to be on the strikers trail with a fee in excess of £1 million being mentioned for the player who first burst onto the Premiership scene as a teenager in the 2003-2004 season.