Diao exit on the cards

Salif Diao appears to be on his way out of Liverpool with manager Rafael Benitez understood to be close to a deal for Boudewijn Zenden.

Midfielder Diao found himself surplus to requirements at Anfield last season, joining Birmingham on loan in the January transfer window, only for injuries to blight his time at St Andrews.

But the £5m (€7.5m) signing from Sedan three years ago is apparently attracting interest from a number of clubs, with the time right for a move if Benitez completes his expected swoop for Zenden.

The Holland international becomes a free agent at midnight tonight when his contract with Middlesbrough expires and, despite manager Steve McClaren’s concerted efforts to get the 28-year-old to remain at the Riverside, a switch to the Reds is now on the cards.

That would push Diao further down the midfield pecking order, with agent Charles Collymore conceding on skysports.com: “I am currently looking at options for Salif and there are clubs from Spain and England looking at him.

“Salif has two years left on his contract, but I believe if he was to receive a good offer he would consider it.

“Salif is keen to be playing first-team football regularly and we will look at the options with the transfer window open for two months.”

Liverpool, meanwhile, still face Champions League headaches as Slavia Prague have lodged an official complaint to UEFA over their prospective seeding demotion to accommodate the Reds.

Slavia, who finished runner-up in last season’s Czech First Division, will lose their place as one of the seeded teams should Liverpool make it through to the third and final qualifying round.

That would result in the Czech side facing a much tougher task in qualifying for the lucrative group stage, and potentially losing out on a significant amount of revenue if they fail to do so.

Czech FA secretary general Petr Fousek last week warned UEFA of a planned protest, and now both the club and organisation have delivered as they are determined not to lose out.

The problem has arisen after UEFA recently granted Liverpool special dispensation to defend the European Cup they won in dramatic fashion against AC Milan last month.

A section of the protest sent to UEFA read: “Conforming to all the principles of honest sport competition, honoured by UEFA, we think it is fair for Slavia Prague to remain at the head of the group at the third preliminary round of the Champions League.”

Fousek is hoping UEFA will resolve the matter as he said: “We respect UEFA’s decision and understand some arguments.

“But on the other hand we don’t want to see Slavia Prague deprived of its position.”