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After Diakite, QPR aim to sign Cisse

Comment: 0 January 31st, 2012

The Queens Park Rangers are closing in on a £4-million deal that will send Lazio striker Djibril Cisse to Loftus Road.

The deal comes after the club secured Mali midfielder Samba Diakite on loan from French outfit Nancy.

Reports say that the Premier League squad have already agreed on personal terms with Cisse, who also played for Liverpool and Sunderland.

The 30-year-old striker has failed to find a permanent place at Lazio and the move will allow him to find regular playing time.

QPR manager Mark Hughes revealed that he had wanted to originally sign the French striker on loan with the possibility of the complete transfer in June. However, due to constant interests from the player and Lazio to make the move permanent, QPR have finally considered the option.

Cisse is best known for his £14 million spell with Liverpool where he scored 11 goals in his first 23 games. He stayed with the outfit for three seasons starting 2004.

During this time, however, he suffered a horrible leg injury that threatened to end his career.

After recovering, Cisse played three seasons with Marseille before coming back to the Premier League with Sunderland. He was then sold to Greek club Panathinaikos where he had two successful seasons before being brought over to Italy’s Lazio.

With the way things are going, he is coming back for a third spell in England.

For the 23-year-old Diakite, his loan term with QPR ends at the close of this season.  He is currently competing in the Africa Cup of Nations.

“Samba is a young player who has made an impression on French football,” said Hughes.

“He can carry the ball and score goals from midfield. He will give us more physical presence and athleticism in the middle of the park.”

“It is a dream to join a Premier League club,” said Diakite. “The board and the manager have big ambitions and I am delighted to join a club with such goals.”

“I have always enjoyed watching English football and I can’t wait to return from the African Cup of Nations and give my all for the club. It is a very exciting move for me.”

According to the terms on the loan, QPR can opt to make the move permanent by the end of the season.

QPR are currently 16^th in the Premier League, two places clear of the drop zone.

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