Diao 'keen' on Stoke

[Morph]

probly when he saw a load of kids being picked before him in the reserves, and he then realised he'd just wasted the last 4 years of his life, has he ever picked up a medal for us?

[Rich]

Did he get a Carling Cup medal in 2003?

[dom9]

That's fair enough! But, what makes you think he isn't on that amount?

You've got to remember the circumstances around him signing, rather than the ****e player that he is - also the fact that he's proved impossible to move on shows he's on a large pay packet.

The lack of reading anything other than internet rumour on the subject.

I agree his wages have stoppped him moving elswhere, but if you look at the clubs he's been linked to, £20K a week would probably be more than they pay their best players.

[Morph]

like i said i'm sure bascombe has mentioned it in the echo on occasion

[dom9]

I'm sure he has, I have just never seen him write it.

[Parm]

Play him anywhere, he'll be equally as ****e.

[livvy145]

Diao's a done deal for City

By Phil Jackson - Created on 10 Oct 2006


Stoke City have completed the loan signing of Liverpool midfielder Salif Diao.

The Senegal international has agreed to a three-month spell at The Britannia Stadium after struggling to establish himself at Anfield since Rafa Benitez took over at the helm.

Injuries and new arrivals have hampered his progress, and as a result he has had loans with Premiership clubs Birmingham City and Portsmouth over the course of the last two seasons.

With the 29-year-old's contract set to expire this summer, Potters boss Tony Pulis has revealed that he has long been keen to add to his squad's experience at the top level.

"We've been monitoring Salif for a while now and have had very good reports about the kid," Pulis told the club's website.

"He played 40 games in his first season at Liverpool, he's still only 29 and he's desperate to play football."

The Britannia Stadium outfit have had too many draws in The Championship so far this season and currently hover perilously above the drop zone.

Potters fans will be hoping Diao can improve the side's killer instinct ahead of the tough trip to Leeds United on Saturday.

[Morph]

about the kid?

he's feckin 29

[Shaggy]

"We've been monitoring Salif for a while now and have had very good reports about the kid," Pulis told the club's website.

Somebody's been telling you little porkies, Tony!

[friedk]

I just can't believe Diao feels he has no future at Anfield.

[Neil Young]

The lack of reading anything other than internet rumour on the subject.

I agree his wages have stoppped him moving elswhere, but if you look at the clubs he's been linked to, £20K a week would probably be more than they pay their best players.

I'm not even sure this is true. After all, wouldn't LFC have been prepared to some of his wage while he was on loan to make up the shortfall since it would obviously be better for the club than paying all his wage?

In that case, I think the most logical explanation for his failure to move earlier (including to Spain) is something other than money. We've heard little or nothing solid from any source other than Internet gossip and speculation (and even if Chris Bascombe wrote something about it I don't see why we should take a journo's word without question) and yet on the back of that people have said some pretty unpleasant things about the lad. I don't know his family circumstances over here but maybe it could be something to do with that - it certainly seems as likely as money, probably more so.

[Red Wino]

3 months loan, eh? What are the odds for Stoke not extending that loan deal past New Year?

[lfc4ever]

See how much he is reported to be earning:

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_1582363,00.html

Stoke have tied up the signing of Liverpool midfielder Salif Diao on a three-month loan after agreeing what percentage of his wages to pay.

The 29-year-old agreed to the switch over the weekend and trained with the Potters for the first time on Monday.

Now, the two clubs have come to an agreement over how much of Diao's £40,000-a-week wages Stoke will pay and the Senegal international is in line to make his debut in Saturday's trip to face Leeds.

Diao admits his career at Liverpool is over after falling out of favour at Anfield and he sees the move as a chance to prove people wrong who have labelled him a flop.

"My career at Liverpool is over, but not my career in England," he told the Stoke Sentinel.

"I feel I have something to prove, especially in England, because apart from my first year at Liverpool I have been unlucky with injuries.

"Sometimes you read in the papers that you are a flop and that hurts you a lot.

"I'm a very proud person and that's one of the reasons I want to stay in England. I know I'm a better player than you have seen."

"I love the passion of the people here and I want to stay in this country long-term instead of moving abroad."

Diao also insists he has no problem dropping down a division to the Championship.

"Sometimes you have to go down to be able to jump higher. I've already done that before and I am just happy to be here. I am impressed by everything, and everyone was happy for me to be here," he added.

Potters boss Tony Pulis claims the signing proves just how ambitious the club are, despite their lowly position in the league.

"He is only on loan, but I still hope this is the kind of signing that will convince people how serious the club is about our future ambitions," he said.

"We are absolutely delighted to sign a player of Salif's quality and we are extremely grateful to Liverpool for agreeing to the deal.

"Salif is a lovely kid and one, hopefully, champing at the bit and with something to prove to our benefit.

"He can play at the back, but I see him more as a midfielder for us. He's an all-action type of player, very competitive and a good passer of the ball.

"We've done our homework and checked him out fitness-wise as you'd expect. He seems to be 100 per cent and is on course to be in Saturday's squad for Leeds away.

Meanwhile, the Potters are also hopeful of completing the loan capture of Sunderland midfielder Rory Delap ahead of the Leeds clash.

[JRG]

I know he's despised by a lot of people on this site, and other sites for that matter, but I sincerely wish him good luck and hopefully he can be a success there.

[Chris]

I know he's despised by a lot of people on this site, and other sites for that matter, but I sincerely wish him good luck and hopefully he can be a success there.

Yep, good luck to him, you cant question his work rate when he played he just wasnt good enough.