Exclusive: The inside story on the French 'gems'

Last updated : 30 June 2003 By Gary Purvis
The Liverpool boss will visit Le Havre next week and make a decision on whether the players should join up with the rest of the squad for pre-season training.

If not, it is expected that both will be loaned out to French first division clubs. Both players have expressed a desire to leave Le Havre, who were relegated from the top flight at the end of last season.

The opinion we were given by a friend of mine and a die-hard Le Havre fan is that their attitude is quite poor and they are disrespectful, particularly Le Tallec who appears pretentious and has very little time for the public.

President Jean Pierre Louvel, who discovered Pongolle several years ago, is apparently very disappointed with them both.

In the words of the Le Havre fan: "We have already replaced them in our hearts - they are unworthy of our colours."