Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has confirmed that he will be meeting Auxerre officials to discuss potential transfer targets for next season.
Among those known to interest the Premier League club are striker Djibril Cisse and central defender Jean-Alain Boumsong believed to be top of his wish-list.
Liverpool missed out on Champions League football for next season after losing to rivals Chelsea on the final day of the season. Although the loss of revenue from the competition will have a bearing on Liverpool’s expenditure in the summer, Houllier has been told that money to strengthen the squad will be made available.
“We will have a meeting with Auxerre at the end of the month,” said Houllier .
“Rick Parry, the board and I are aware of the need for fresh blood but at the same time we have a good nucleus of the team.
“I want to preserve that. The average age of the team is 25 and it would be silly not togive the players more time.
“It is natural there will be some difficult decisions ahead. I know I have to take them but that’s football.”
Auxerre duo Cisse and Boumsong are believed to be Houllier’s principal targets, although he will face stiff competition for both players from some of Europe’s leading clubs. .
