Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is poised to sign his former player El-Hadji Diouf from Sunderland in a £2m transfer. Diouf's imminent arrival has allowed Allardyce to release Matt Derbyshire to Olympiacos on loan until the end of the season.

"We're in the process of trying to sign El-Hadji Diouf at the moment," confirmed Allardyce on Friday morning.

"So the one-in, one-out scenario looks like it will be finalised this morning.

"He can play a few positions, down the right, down the left, as well as along the front.

"I'm hoping he can come and give me the kind of performances he gave at Bolton.

He added: "In the time I spent with him we always finished in the top half of the Premier League, no lower than eighth, and we played in Europe.

"Hopefully, he can bring his ability, his trickery, to Ewood Park and delight some of the Blackburn fans."

When reminded of Diouf's diving antics that won Allardyce the game that night four years ago, with a chuckle the Rovers manager said: "And nobody has ever done that for Blackburn in the past, have they not?

"If he goes and plays to his best then they (the fans) will soon take to him because he is talented.

"I just have to make sure he's ready and available, and he produces the best he can, because his best is very good - and normally it doesn't come this cheap."