BOLTON Wanderers want to sign El-Hadji Diouf from Liverpool on a permanent basis when his loan expires at the end of the season, having been persuaded that his considerable baggage is a price worth paying for a player who has helped their pursuit of European qualification.
Sam Allardyce, the manager, indicated a month ago that Diouf’s disciplinary problems had led him to doubt whether the board would be prepared to pay a fee for the Senegal forward, but Phil Gartside, the chairman, said yesterday that he would certainly try to keep him after his loan term ends.
“I think he wants to stay and we want him,” Gartside said. “It’s not so much a matter of reaching agreement with Diouf as with Liverpool. We know what his aspirations are. He might not get exactly what he wants but we know where we are going. We need to do a deal which will suit both clubs and we will try to do that this summer.”
Liverpool are eager to wash their hands of the 23-year-old and their eagerness to do so has been increased by the adverse publicity the player has continued to attract. In November, he was banned for three matches for spitting at Arjan de Zeeuw, the Portsmouth defender, and he has since been accused of diving to win penalties.
Gartside, talking of the “danger of another club coming in for him”, hinted that he would seek a compromise with Liverpool, who would request a fee in the region of £3 million for a player they bought from Lens for £10 million in 2002.