Liverpool make $8.3 million bid for Ziege

LIVERPOOL, England, July 24 (Reuters) - Liverpool have made a 5.5-million-pound ($8.3 million) bid for Middlesbrough's German defender Christian Ziege, Anfield sources said on Monday.
The 28-year-old left back has been linked with a move to Liverpool since fellow German internationals Dietmar Hamann and Markus Babbel joined the English premier league club.

Liverpool officials have refused to comment before a pre-season tour to Switzerland.

But sources close to the club indicated that Ziege, whose Middlesbrough contract allows him to consider transfer offers of five million pounds ($7.58 million) or above, is keen on the move.

Ziege, who has 52 international caps and played in Euro 2000, joined Middlesbrough 12 months ago for four million pounds ($6.06 million) from Italian side AC Milan.