Diao Moves To Stoke

Salif Diao has completed his loan move to Stoke, effectively bringing an end to his Liverpool career as I can’t see the club keeping him on past Christmas. The loan move itself is for three months (October thru to the January transfer window) at which stage a permanent decision will be made on Diao’s footballing future at Anfield.

Diao, who hasn’t featured much for Liverpool since he’s first season though was active enough in preseason this year and enjoyed loan spells away last year still draws down a £40,000 a week wage, Stoke having agreed to pay a small portion of his wages for the loan deal.

Speaking to the Stoke Sentinel today about his loan, Diao said

My career at Liverpool is over, but not my career in England. 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 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.

Stoke, who reckon Diao is at 100% fitness is expected to make his debut against Leeds at the weekend. Something we’ll never get though is the money that Houllier spent on Diao at the time. Remeber when Diao was labelled as the new Patrick Viera? He he…. Didn’t that happen as well with Bruno Cheyrou?

Diao becomes a free agent anyway next summer so it would be highly doubtful if any cash would be raised from activity in January.

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