Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier was reported to be poised to make a bid for Socceroo Harry Kewell and Southampton striker James Beattie.

Beattie is rated at STG12 million ($A30.04 million) but Houllier hoped to get Australian star Kewell for STG5 million ($A12.52 million) from cash-strapped Leeds United.

Houllier is keen to find a replacement for Emile Heskey to partner England star Michael Owen.

He believes French club Auxerre will turn down a bid for striking duo Djibril Cisse and Jean-Alain Boumsong, who are also being chased by Olympique Marseille.

Houllier wants to replace Heskey, who has disappointed since his STG11 million ($A27.53 million) move from Leicester three years ago.

Heskey might fetch STG5 million ($A12.52 million) and Houllier would use that to try to buy Kewell.

Manchester United and Arsenal have also been linked with the 24-year-old Australian.

Beattie, 25, is also wanted by Newcastle United.

He scored 23 Premiership goals to finish third in the scoring lists behind Manchester United's Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and Arsenal's French striker Thierry Henry.

But Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe has told manager Gordon Strachan he does not have to sell anyone this summer after an eighth place finish in the Premiership and an FA Cup final appearance.

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