Leeds United cult hero El-Hadji Diouf has agreed to extend his stay at Elland Road with the signing of a new 18-month contract, Now he can get on with his “special challenge” of getting Leeds back into the Premier League and one or two Leeds fans will be very happy that he’s staying.
There will dancing in the streets of Ashby-de-la-Zouch tonight as my co-writer and his family celebrate the news that Diouf will still be at Leeds for the next season and a half, while Neil Warnock was only slightly more restrained when he spoke to the official Leeds website earlier today.
"We're delighted he's agreed a new deal and hopefully he'll enjoy the next 18 months. Obviously it's a massive boost for everyone knowing that we are going to have him around, he's a match-winning player. He's a player who can change a game and I'm delighted we've been able to keep him. He's also fitted in really well, and he's been great with the lads."
The 31-year-old Senegal forward came to Leeds on non-contract terms in August and signed a short-term deal in September, and has scored five goals in 24 appearances so far. He turned down an offer of an extended contract in October, so presumably the terms on the contract he’s just signed were an improvement on that deal, and we can thank the new owners for putting up the cash.
Earlier in the season Diouf told ‘Sport 360’ “I prefer to play for Leeds than go to a Premier League club and have to play not to go down. It’s more exciting here and to help them achieve something special. I could have gone to Qatar, Dubai or somewhere else, but the challenge is bigger here. If I help get Leeds back into the Premier League, then I’ll be a legend.”
Let’s hope that this deal is but the start of some serious squad building over the next six weeks, and that the legendary Diouf can indeed be part of a Leeds team that takes us back to the Premier League.