BBC SPORT | Football | Teams | Liverpool | Fadiga wants Liverpool switch



By Simon Austin BBC Sport Online

Senegal World Cup star Khalilou Fadiga has revealed his desire to play for Liverpool.

The Auxerre midfielder is reported to have emerged as the Anfield side's number one target following the collapse of the Lee Bowyer deal.

Diouf arrives at Liverpool

"They are one of the best teams in the world - of course I would like to play for them," Fadiga told BBC Sport Online.

"Two of my good friends, El Hadji Diouf and Salif Diao, play at the club and I would love to join them there.

"Also, Gerard Houllier is a very, very good coach.

"I have followed Liverpool for many years and am a big fan of players like Michael Owen, Emile Heskey and Dietmar Hamann."

Fadiga, 27, revealed that Italian giants Inter Milan had also shown interest in him but insisted: "For me it is better to go to Liverpool.

Khalilou Fadiga
Fadiga was one of the stars of the World Cup
"They play the football I like, have a French coach and I have friends there."

Fadiga has two years left on his Auxerre contract, but the French side are likely to let him leave for �5m.

The powerful midfielder enhanced his reputation during Senegal's march to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

But he has a controversial reputation, having been jailed for striking a fan when he played for Bruges and arrested before the World Cup for stealing a necklace.

Fadiga played for Paris St Germain before moving on to Standard Liege and then Bruges.

He took out Belgian citizenship but still opted to play for Senegal instead.


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