It is on papers (Independent) today -- unless he is as good as Riise I don't think we should pay £10m. Maybe 5 or 6, but not 10.
Liverpool win race for highly-rated Emerton
By Alan Nixon
24 April 2002
Gérard Houllier, the Liverpool manager, is set to beat Leeds United and Newcastle United in the chase for the Feyenoord winger Brett Emerton.
Houllier has been after the Australian for a year and is now close to clinching the deal after several meetings, the pair first meeting at the Confederations Cup last year. Feyenoord allowed Emerton and his lawyers to talk to Liverpool, Leeds and Newcastle last week and the player has opted for Anfield. Emerton's advisers are discussing personal terms on the move although the final fee is yet to be agreed.
Liverpool would rather not pay the £10m fee being asked and negotiations between the clubs are continuing, although the signs are positive for the Anfield club. Emerton can play anywhere down the right and will give Houllier a specialist wide player on both sides of the pitch with John Arne Riise doing a similar job on the left.
Houllier, meanwhile, has been in France, checking on the Auxerre striker, Djibril Cissé, although he will cost around £15m. Houllier would like to sign both Cissé and Nicolas Anelka but he may only be allowed to purchase one of the two because of financial restraints.
Anelka is yet to agree terms with the club, forcing Houllier to look elsewhere. The Liverpool manager wants two strikers to compete with Michael Owen and Emile Heskey.
