MEGSON WANTS BIG MONEY FOR DIOUF

Diouf celebrates his goal on Saturday.

Gary Megson has warned El-Hadji Diouf he will not depart Bolton cheaply following his instrumental display on Saturday.

The Senegal international inspired Bolton to a 2-0 victory against Sunderland worth around £50million, but declared he will still leave the Reebok Stadium.

And at least he can depart with his head held high after all-but guaranteeing his club's top-flight status.

That Diouf has struggled badly at times this season is undeniable - his performances in recent weeks were even brought into question by his own team-mates - but he signed off in typically colourful style.

The crowd favourite fired home a superb 42nd-minute opener after collecting a deep cross from skipper Kevin Nolan and Sunderland substitute Daryl Murphy headed into his own net with eight minutes remaining to seal the result.

And the former Liverpool midfielder - believed to be a target for Manchester City -said afterwards: "I'm definitely leaving. I love Bolton but I'm ready for a new challenge."

Diouf's problem is that he has still has one year remaining on his contract and Bolton will demand a big fee for his departure.

Megson said: "Myself and everybody else don't want Dioufy to go anywhere and that's still the case.

"If Dioufy does go, it will take a large fee and it will have to be a big club that takes him because of the amount of money that we pay a talented lad like El-Hadji."

Megson is now waiting to hear from clubs interested in signing Diouf, who has courted controversy ever since being brought to England by Gerard Houllier in 2002.

"He's a great lad and I've got all the time in the world for him - I really get on well with him," continued the mentor.

"He's got his faults but we'll wait and see what happens because nobody as yet has picked the phone up and said, 'we'll do this with Dioufy'.

"He's done okay since I've been manager but I don't want him to go anywhere and if he does then it will only be in the best interest of this football club. Nobody will able to nick him."