Fulham boss Martin Jol wanted to sign Papiss Cisse before striker joined Newcastle

10 December 2012 07:46
Fulham boss Martin Jol says he was interested in signing Papiss Cisse before the striker decided to join Newcastle United at the start of the year.

Cisse moved to St James' Park from Freiburg in January and enjoyed a blistering start to his Newcastle career by scoring 13 goals in 14 appearances last season. Though the Senegal forward has only scored twice in the Premier League this term, he is expected to lead the line when Newcastle face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday night. Jol confirmed he did want to add Cisse to his squad, but is now pleased to have Dimitar Berbatov to call on after capturing the Bulgarian from Manchester United in the summer transfer window.

"He was always on my list. I can't lie so I have to say yes," said Jol of Cisse.

"He made the choice for Newcastle and that was it.

"[There were] three or four last year that were too expensive or they stayed and he was one of them.

"He was top scorer in Germany and played for not the biggest club. It's always a little gamble.

"With Berbatov it will be the same - [Arsene] Wenger said he didn't know he was on the transfer list. So there will be other clubs thinking: 'Oh, we could have had him'.

Source: team_talk