Liverpool transfer net cast wide

Sportinglife - Italian outfit Udinese have confirmed that Liverpool are chasing their Chilean midfield ace David Pizarro.

And another Anfield target, Portuguese youngster Cristiano Roberto, insists he would love to play alongside Michael Owen.

Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier has also been linked with Hamburg's Iranian winger Mehdi Mahdavikia and Inter Milan's French international midfielder Stephane Dalmat, but Pizarro could well be top of the Anfield hit-list.

Udinese director of sport Piepaolo Marino has admitted that Liverpool have inquired about 23-year-old Pizarro, who had an excellent season in Serie A where he scored seven goals in 31 games and helped fire his club into the UEFA Cup.

Marino, who has also had to contend with interest from rival Italian clubs for Pizarro, said: "Something on Pizarro will be decided in July. Juventus, Lazio, Parma and Liverpool are the teams who want him, and things will be unblocked in July."

Pizarro made a big impression last season with unfashionable Udinese, and his club were interested in a variety of player-exchange deals before Liverpool became involved in the situation.

The Chilean, however, is hedging his bets and said: "I could still stay at Udinese, we are in the UEFA Cup next season."

Houllier still has hopes that the transfer situations involving Damien Duff or Djibril Cisse could change as the summer progresses.

But the Anfield boss has shown interest in Sporting Lisbon's 18-year-old forward Ronaldo, who has been playing for Portugal in the Toulon tournament this week.

And the youngster has been made aware of the interest from Merseyside, and admits to being keen on the chance to play alongside Owen.

"Michael Owen is a great player and I would love to play alongside him,' he said.

"It would be a great offer for me and for Sporting, but let's wait and see. I have not been officially informed of anything about this, but I am pleased to know that they (Liverpool) follow my progress.

"Liverpool are one of the biggest clubs in England, it's obviously a dream for any footballer to be able to represent a team with such tradition."