Christian Ziege ss

Spurs manager Glenn Hoddle has already had a £3.5million bid for the German international ace turned down.

Kop boss Gerard Houllier wants to recoup most of the £5.5m they paid Middlesbrough for Ziege a year ago.

And Fulham boss Tigana is ready to hand Houllier £4m for the German, who has failed to make an impact at the treble cup winners Ziege, 29, has made just 11 Premiership starts at Anfield and has been involved in a couple of bust-ups with Houllier over team selection.

Liverpool are willing to cash in on Ziege now - and Tigana is confident he can beat Hoddle to his signature.

Ziege is on £30,000 a week at the Mersey giants but his wages would be no problem for Fulham, who are bankrolled by their multi-millionaire owner Mohammed Fayed.

Tigana has been told he can spend whatever it takes to guarantee establishing his runaway First Division champions in the top flight next season.

And Tigana believes he holds the trump card in the battle to land Ziege in the shape of striker Karlheinz Riedle.

The veteran German international is a big pal of Ziege and Tigana believes that will play a crucial part in helping him land his man.

If Ziege opts for a future at Craven Cottage, it would also be sweet revenge for Tigana after he lost out on Teddy Sheringham to Spurs on a Bosman free from Manchester United.