Leeds are in talks with controversial striker El-Hadji Diouf with a view to bringing him to Elland Road in the summer.

The former Liverpool, Bolton, Sunderland and Rangers player will be a free agent at the end of the season, when he will leave relegated Championship outfit Doncaster.

The move has come as a huge surprise after comments made by Neil Warnock about the Senegalese forward during the manager’s time at QPR.

Warnock described Diouf as a ‘sewer rat’ after claiming that he had abused Jamie Mackie while he laid stricken on the pitch with a broken leg during an FA Cup clash between the Hoops and Blackburn Rovers last January.

Diouf, however, denied there were any lingering problems between him and Warnock.

“I know people have talked about the incident between me and Neil Warnock but it is in the past and is not an issue,” said Diouf.

“I have the utmost respect for Neil Warnock and I’d be delighted to help Leeds gain promotion to the Premier League.”

Leeds bring down the curtain on their Championship campaign against Leicester at Elland Road on Saturday.

Defender Tom Lees can play after delaying surgery on his broken nose until the season is over.