Leeds United manager Neil Warnock does not believe El-Hadji Diouf will be tempted by a big-money move to the Middle East

El-Hadji Diouf: Will stay at Leeds, according to manager Warnock

Leeds manager Neil Warnock is confident El-Hadji Diouf will not quit the Elland Road club for a big-money move to the Middle East.

The striker has impressed at the Championship side after arriving in the summer and played a key role in the Whites' 2-1 Capital One Cup upset of Everton on Tuesday night.

Diouf is currently on a short-term contract at Leeds which expires in January, but Warnock believes he will stay beyond that deal, despite speculation linking him with clubs in Saudi Arabia and Dubai.

"He's given me his word he'll stay with me, if that's worth anything. I think it is," said Warnock in The Independent.

"He's not doing it for the money, he's one of the lowest-paid players at the club. He could get six or seven times the money in Saudi Arabia or somewhere, but he won't be able to enjoy nights like that (Tuesday)."

"He is a matador. This is his stage. He needs something like this."

Former Liverpool, Bolton, Sunderland and Blackburn frontman Diouf has not always been in favour with Warnock, with the manager branding him a "sewer rat" after he accused Jamie Mackie of faking an injury during an FA Cup tie between Rovers and the manager's former club QPR when the striker had a broken leg.

The boss added: "Nobody's said more about him than me. But I met him in the summer and, after I had told him a few home truths, we got on.

"I said I'll get him fit and he'll be surprised how good he'll be. Even a good pro like (Everton defender) Phil Neville was so impressed he said to me after the game: 'What have you done with Dioufy?'"