El-Hadji Diouf

By The Black Cats
January 6 2009

El Hadji Diouf has revealed Blackburn Rovers are in talks to bring him to Ewood Park as he relishes the prospect of a Sam Allardyce reunion. The Sunderland striker has failed to score in 13 games for the Black Cats since a £2.6m move last summer and looks set to end his Wearside nightmare.

Diouf said he has had also approaches from Wigan boss Steve Bruce but would prefer to link up again with Allardyce, who was his manager for three seasons at Bolton.

I for one would be very disappointed if Diouf left us, he has shown what a quality player he is when he's had the chance, he just rarely gets the chance to show us what he can really do.

Diouf has said that he does not want to leave Sunderland, he just wants to play football and if he's not going to get a game at the Sunderland Stadium of Light then he would like to move elsewhere.

“Sam Allardyce wants me to come and join him, and Wigan’s manager has called me as well,” Diouf told a Senegalese newspaper.

“I’m just waiting to see what happens, but in any case if a deal is to be done it will happen quickly.

“I know Sam wants to sign me. We have already spoken about it, and he wants me very soon.

“But for the time being I will let Blackburn and Sunderland discuss the matter. They are in the midst of negotiations, and I will leave them to it.

“I signed a four-year contract with Sunderland, and I don’t want to leave them on bad terms. I hope they will be able to find a solution.”

The Senegalese star impressed in Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup win over Bolton after being handed a first-team recall.

Afterwards the 27-year-old said he would relish talks with new Sunderland boss, and former Bolton coach, Ricky Sbragia.

Now though Diouf seems set to link up again with Allardyce, where he enjoyed a career revamping 3 year spell.