West Ham in for El Hadji Diouf
El Hadji Diouf may be on his way to West Ham after Blackburn boss Steve Kean admitted that he may be willing to listen to offers for the Senegalese international.
"There is interest in Diouf. Maybe someone sees him giving their side a spark. If we get a bid we will discuss it with him. We've had inquiries from Premier League clubs and from abroad. He is aware of that and we will see how far that goes."
Despite his prickly character and tendency to attract controversy, he was a firm favourite of former Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce, who had previously signed him from Liverpool during his time at Bolton. With his mentor no longer at Ewood Park, Diouf may feel it's time to move to pastures news, especially after the latest ugly incident in which he was involved in during the recent FA Cup match against QPR.
According to several QPR players Diouf hurled insults at Rangers star Jamie Mackie while the player lay injured with what turned out to be a double leg break. In the post-match interview Neil Warnock, manager of the west London side, famously said that to describe the forward as a sewer rat was an insult to sewer rats .
West Ham have sometimes been accused of lacking character and determination and may feel that Diouf could offer them the sort of 'nastiness' that their team has lacked as they've struggled in the league. The Hammers may also feel the squad could do with another experienced forward seeing as none of their own has performed to a consistently high level this season. Carlton Cole has struggled for goals, Victor Obinna has been brilliant on occasions and massively disappointing on others whilst Frederic Piquionne has scored goals but been guilty of missing too many chances.
Diouf only has 18 months left on his contract and Blackburn may feel now is the time to cash in on him rather than lose him for a nominal fee in the summer or for nothing at the end of next season. A potential stumbling block though may be the West Ham fans' reaction to the signing after an incident back in 2002 when he was accused of spitting at visiting West Ham fans at Anfield as he warmed up as a Liverpool ¬substitute, not the only time he was accused of such an offence.
Diouf or no Diouf, West Ham have to start winning some matches. They're currently rock bottom on just 21 points and just 1.55 for the drop.
Published: 22 Jan 2011
Comment on this rumour - or post a rumour you've heard