Former Blackburn Rovers striker El-Hadji Diouf training with League One side Preston North End
Former Blackburn http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rovers-c40385 striker El-Hadji Diouf is currently training with League One side Preston North End after his contract with the English Premier League side was terminated. However, Preston manager Phil Brown insisted there was no chance the League One side would sign the 30-year-old Senegalese footballer.
According to Blackburn Rovers Diouf left Ewood Park by mutual consent last week, during the summer transfer window. After talks with Steve Kean, the Blackburn Rovers manager, his contract with the club was terminated six months before it expired, making him a free agent.
Having failed to find a new club as yet, Diouf was invited by Brown to train with Preston in the meantime, an offer the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Senegal-c3001 international accepted. Brown felt that Diouf training with his side was good for both the player and the club.
Brown said while speaking to reporters:
“Diouf is a good friend of mine and he's keeping himself fit here.”
Brown revealed he was on good terms with Diouf, having previously managed him while in charge at Bolton Wanderers. Diouf joined the Wanderers first on a loan move in the 2004-2005 season and then on a more permanent move the next season.
Diouf left the Reebok Stadium in 2008 for Sunderland, after making 88 appearances and scoring 12 goals in the English Premier League from 2005 to 2008. While Brown admitted Diouf was a decent player and would make a good addition to any club, he did not feel Preston North End would sign him.
Brown confirmed:
“Blackburn paid his contract up last week and now he's a free agent. I should think that, as a free agent, he'll be a very valuable asset for someone.
What people must realise is that Diouf is not here because we're signing him.”
According to the League One side manager this was just a temporary solution, which was beneficial to both parties. Brown was confident Diouf would be successful in finding another club, after which he would part ways with The Lilywhites.
He continued:
“It's a win-win situation as far as I see it. Diouf is working to keep himself fit until he gets himself fixed up with a new club, and we're getting the benefit of having a very talented player training with us for a short while.”
Tags: