Anelka loan is 'fantastic bargain' - Houllier

Nicolas Anelka's surprise move from Paris St Germain to Liverpool is a "fantastic bargain" for both the player and the premier league club, manager Gerard Houllier said on Saturday.

Liverpool have signed the controversial France international striker until the end of the season with a view to a permanent transfer.

"What risks? -- I much rather believe that this is a fantastic bargain and I'm very happy about it, both for him and for me," Houllier told sports daily l'Equipe.

"I know what has been said and written about him, and I could not care less, for a player like this cannot lose his talent from one day to the next."

Anelka, who has reportedly fallen out with PSG coach Luis Fernandez, has failed to settle down in most of the clubs he has played for in his short career.

The 22-year-old, who originally left PSG in 1997 to join Arsenal, made his name at Highbury but left the London club in acrimony to join Real two years later.

His Madrid spell also ended in controversy, and he returned to PSG at the start of the 2000-2001 season.

"Nicolas knows English soccer well and he succeeded with Arsenal," Houllier said. "I know him and he knows me."

HEAVY SCHEDULE

Houllier was in charge of the France under-20 team in 1997 and at the time picked David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry more often than his new recruit.

But Houllier said the recent sale of Robbie Fowler to Leeds United and his team's heavy schedule had made it necessary for Liverpool to reinforce their striking options.

"When we transferred Fowler to Leeds, I found myself with only two strikers for two posts with (Michael) Owen and (Emile) Heskey, since (Jari) Litmanen is playing a different role this season," Houllier said.

"Because of all the games ahead of us until the end of the season, I found myself a little short in that sector.

"At the same time, I could see that Nicolas was not playing and that he had reached a point of no return with Luis and I felt there was a great opportunity to seize."

Anelka has been sidelined in recent weeks but Houllier said he would soon have chances to play.

"Nicolas can trust me, he will have his chance," said the France-born coach, who is still recuperating from heart surgery.

"Knowing that we still have some 30 matches to play, he will be able to play half of them."

But he added that the move should not be seen as a loss of confidence in European Footballer of the Year Owen or in England striker Heskey.

"It's just an extra option," he said.