Diouf set to move to Malaga

Outcast striker El-Hadji Diouf has had transfer talks with Malaga during a flying visit to the Spanish club.

The Senegal striker has been told by new Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez that he has no future at Anfield and should find another club.

Diouf was on a plane to Spain soon after Benitez had returned to Merseyside after Liverpool’s return from their USA tour.

Diouf has insisted he will not give up the final two years of his lucrative contract, which pays him over £40,000 (€60,000) a week, so the best Liverpool can hope for is that Diouf will agree a one-year loan with Malaga.

A spokesman for the Spanish club said: “Diouf was here and he left Malaga almost convinced to sign for us.”

Diouf is also wanted by Bolton on loan, but Liverpool and the player would prefer the move was abroad.

Diouf was spotted in Malaga at the Tryp-Alamedia hotel, where he spent three hours in discussions with his agent and Malaga technical secretary Manuel Ruiz.

Pictures of the player strolling along the seafront at Malaga have appeared in the Spanish media.

The spokesman added: “We would hope for a decision on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.”

Diouf will make the opposite trip to Liverpool’s new £2m (€3m) defender Josemi, who has moved to Anfield from Malaga.

If Diouf leaves on loan it will be yet another French-speaking departure from Liverpool since Benitez arrived, all signings by former boss Gerard Houllier.

Young French defender Carl Medjani joined Lorient on loan for a season today to add to similar loan departures of Bruno Cheyrou (Marseille), Anthony Le Tallec (St Etienne), Gregory Vignal (Rangers) and Alou Diarra (Lens).

Benitez is clearing the decks at Liverpool for a few new signings, having been told he had to sell or cut the wage bill – although the club have played down suggestions Milan Baros may be a target for Barcelona.

But none will be able to play in Tuesday’s first match of his Anfield career when he takes Liverpool to Austria for a crucial Champions League third qualifying round clash with AK Graz.