By Phil Hay
Published on Saturday 11 August 2012 09:17
Leeds United have revived their interest in Senegalese international El-Hadji Diouf.
The former Liverpool and Doncaster Rovers forward has re-emerged as an option for United manager Neil Warnock after training with Leeds towards the end of this week.
Diouf linked up with Warnock’s squad at Thorp Arch on Thursday morning having neared the end of the summer without securing a move to a new club.
The 31-year-old was released by Doncaster in May after a short spell at the Keepmoat Stadium and he has remained unattached for the past three months.
But Warnock, who was first linked with a move for Diouf at the end of April, took the opportunity to bring him to Thorp Arch amid his ongoing search for another attacking player.
The Leeds boss needs to move players off his wage bill before making further additions to the squad at Elland Road and five of his senior professionals are currently on the transfer list – Danny Pugh, Robbie Rogers, Billy Paynter, Paul Connolly and Paul Rachubka.
As a free agent, Diouf would command no fee and is unlikely to demand an excessive wage having joined Doncaster for around £2,000 a week. He can play as either a forward or a winger, two areas of United’s team which Warnock said he was aiming to strengthen before the Championship season begins.
Speaking earlier this week, Warnock said: “We’re not bad now apart from strikers and wide right. If we could get a striker who could play wide-right that would be the ideal scenario.â€
Diouf’s controversial career has taken him to Liverpool, Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland and former Scottish Premier League club Rangers, and he
joined Doncaster unexpectedly last October after parting company with Blackburn Rovers. He has commanded combined transfer fees of around £14m during a decade in England.
He and Warnock were involved in a spat following an FA Cup game between Queens Park Rangers and Blackburn last year but their past history is unlikely to obstruct a deal bringing him to Leeds on a permanent basis.
Warnock refused to confirm or deny any interest in Diouf when rumours of contract talks between the pair surfaced in April, saying: “I can’t do either and I won’t be doing either regarding any speculation.
“We’re going to get speculation throughout the summer and the best thing for me to do is to keep my own counsel. I’m going to bite my tongue until the appropriate time – when we do sign somebody.
