On the Lazarev-Lieb extension of the Hobby-Rice theorem (Q2437403)

\textit{O. Lazarev} and \textit{E. H. Lieb} [Indiana Univ. Math. J. 62, No. 4, 1133--1141 (2013; Zbl 1295.41025)] proved that, given \(f_1,\ldots,f_n\in L^1([0,1]:\mathbb C)\), there exists a smooth function \(\Phi\) that take values on the unit circle and annihilates span \(\{f_1,\ldots,f_n\}\). We give an alternative proof of that fact that also shows the \(W^{1,1}\) norm of \(\Phi\) can be bounded by \(5\pi n+1\). Answering a question raised by Lazarev and Liab, we show that if \(p>1\) then there is no bound for the \(W^{1,p}\) norm of any such multiplier in terms of the norm of \(\{f_1,\ldots,f_n\}\).