Bolton deal close for Diouf
Bolton are poised to sign striker El-Hadji Diouf from Liverpool on a long-term deal.
The 24-year-old Senegal international has been a revelation at the Reebok Stadium after arriving from Anfield on loan.
Despite two three-match bans he finished Bolton’s top scorer with nine goals and has become a favourite with supporters.
Diouf rounded off the campaign in style yesterday with another impressive show in the 3-2 home defeat of Everton.
The player cost Liverpool £10m (€14.6m) from Lens and there were fears Bolton would be unable to put together a financial package to suit all parties.
However chairman Phil Gartside revealed they are now making good progress.
“We are very close to doing a deal with Liverpool. That’s all I can say at the moment,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “He’s the first target and, when we’ve done that, we’ll have a look at other things.”
Diouf has emphasised time and again he wants to become a full-time Bolton player – and he showed his feelings by spraying the chairman with champagne at the end of the game with Everton.
Bolton are entering the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history and Gartside added: “We can’t better this as a season.
“To finish sixth, and still be talking about getting into the Champions League with three games to go is unbelievable. But we mustn’t get carried away talking about a UEFA Cup campaign. We’ve got to stay in the Premier League. That’s what next season is all about.”
