' Solskjaer makes his move and offers £2.5mil '

By Chris Wathan
Cardiff City boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes formal approach for Hannover striker Mame Diouf
Thursday 9th Jan 2014.

The German outfit have revealed the Welsh club have made contact over a possible £2.5m deal


Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made his move for Mame Diouf after Hannover confirmed the new Cardiff City boss has gone formal with his interest in the striker.

Hannover president Martin Kind revealed earlier this week he would be prepared to cash-in on former Manchester United rookie Diouf amid links with the 26-year-old to a switch to the Bluebirds.

It is understood a fee of around £2.5m would be enough to persuade the Bundesliga club to sell the Senegal frontman after he told them he will not sign a new deal when his current contract runs out at the end of the season.

And now Kind has told German media outlets that Cardiff have made an official approach as Solksjaer looks to get his man in after completing the £2.5m move for Heerenveen midfielder Magnus Wolff Eikrem and looking to tie-up a move for Molde starlet Matts Moller Daehli.

However, Kind did admit that he would be prepared to keep hold of Diouf should new boss Tayfun Korkut insist on keeping the five-goal former Blackburn loanee.




Turkish boss Korkut recently replaced Mirko Slomka at the Bundesliga club and said of Diouf: "If we have quality we should protect them. It would not be easy to fund a replacement and I did not get the impression Mame's thoughts are somewhere else"

Kind stressed: "The coach wants to keep Diouf, well, he stays."

However, with Hannover eyeing up young Chile striker Nicolas Castillo, Cardiff could yet tempt them into a sale as the January transfer business steps up a gear.

Should we be excited about this?? I see he has a great scoring record in his last couple of seasons at Hannover but I noticed his record for Blackburn was fairly poor (maybe he was coming off the bench)

I dont watch German football really so I have no idea of his standards, and I refuse to form an opinion based on YouTube 'best bits'

I really hope if we do get him in he has a good eye for goal as we havent had a striker like that in a long while.

So should we be excited?? You tell me

Should we be excited about this?? I see he has a great scoring record in his last couple of seasons at Hannover but I noticed his record for Blackburn was fairly poor (maybe he was coming off the bench)

I dont watch German football really so I have no idea of his standards, and I refuse to form an opinion based on YouTube 'best bits'

I really hope if we do get him in he has a good eye for goal as we havent had a striker like that in a long while.

So should we be excited?? You tell me

I've seen a fair bit of Bundersliga on BT sport and it really is an exciting fast paced league, he does have an impressive record so hopefully is played the right way in an attacking line up I can't see a reason why he won't bang in the goals for us. I think its a decent risk to take at the end of the day only 2.5 million

Should we be excited about this?? I see he has a great scoring record in his last couple of seasons at Hannover but I noticed his record for Blackburn was fairly poor (maybe he was coming off the bench)

I dont watch German football really so I have no idea of his standards, and I refuse to form an opinion based on YouTube 'best bits'

I really hope if we do get him in he has a good eye for goal as we havent had a striker like that in a long while.

So should we be excited?? You tell me

The German league is fantastic and the top scorers in the league are always the big names like Lewandowski etc., his scoring record in that league is very impressive which is something to be excited about.

Should we be excited about this?? I see he has a great scoring record in his last couple of seasons at Hannover but I noticed his record for Blackburn was fairly poor (maybe he was coming off the bench)

I dont watch German football really so I have no idea of his standards, and I refuse to form an opinion based on YouTube 'best bits'

I really hope if we do get him in he has a good eye for goal as we havent had a striker like that in a long while.

So should we be excited?? You tell me

Gavin, I think judging him on his Blackburn days is a bit unfair tbh as he is more mature now and more experienced, I think he will fit in just fine in our set up and players and will score a few goals imho

Should we be excited about this?? I see he has a great scoring record in his last couple of seasons at Hannover but I noticed his record for Blackburn was fairly poor (maybe he was coming off the bench)

I dont watch German football really so I have no idea of his standards, and I refuse to form an opinion based on YouTube 'best bits'

I really hope if we do get him in he has a good eye for goal as we havent had a striker like that in a long while.

So should we be excited?? You tell me

The truth. For £2.5m he'd be a brilliant signing. I'd go up to £4m for him but no more.

Now, the facts:

Under Ole he'll thrive because of the attacking style of play and he'll prosper in that system. Under Malky he'd be as much use as signing Brownie.

Don't get me wrong I always like to see new signings,but I was expecting Ole to sign players with prem experience as we try to stay up.
We are in a dog fight and every game is going to be hard,I really really hope these players are up to the task in hand.
In Ole we trust

Should we be excited about this?? I see he has a great scoring record in his last couple of seasons at Hannover but I noticed his record for Blackburn was fairly poor (maybe he was coming off the bench)

I dont watch German football really so I have no idea of his standards, and I refuse to form an opinion based on YouTube 'best bits'

I really hope if we do get him in he has a good eye for goal as we havent had a striker like that in a long while.

So should we be excited?? You tell me

The truth. For £2.5m he'd be a brilliant signing. I'd go up to £4m for him but no more.

Now, the facts:

Under Ole he'll thrive because of the attacking style of play and he'll prosper in that system. Under Malky he'd be as much use as signing Brownie.

We should be VERY excited indeed by this! Yes his time at Blackburn wasn't great but he only started 17 of his 27 games and the ones he did start he didn't play the full 90. Let's not forget Fergie personally admired him enough to buy him - taken him on tour - put him in his cup final squad - play in in the Prem - all at the age of 21.

I think he's a dead cert to sign, again due to Man Utd and Molde links. He's a current and consistent proven goal scorer in a top league. He can also play out wide. Plus he does a sommersault as good as Earnie's!!

Hannover chairman is adamant he won't be sold. Coach rates him as his top player, and does not want him to leave. Interesting to see what happens, everyone has a price.

V good player.

People rate him for his 26 games at Blackburn. He was playing in a sinking ship type team.

Take a look at him now. It's a different player IMO.

If he signs he will be a goal scorer. 10 plus a season.

For some strange reason Strikers always exite me.

Thanks for your replies guys, kudos to all you knowledge fans

City in for a Portuguese player as well

City in for a Portuguese player as well

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_Slimani

City in for a Portuguese player as well

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_Slimani

Only really heard of him from his stint here. Just checked out his scoring record in the Bundesliga. Goal every other game pretty much. In a quality league like that he must be good. If that fee is correct that's a steal!

Excellent player big strong and quick
would be a fantastic signing

Either of these two players would surely be an improvement on what we have now.

Either of these two players would surely be an improvement on what we have now.

City in for a Portuguese player as well

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_Slimani

DOB june 18th 88.

City in for a Portuguese player as well

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_Slimani

DOB june 18th 88.

haha i bet tan has told ogs it doesn't matter what he costs get him.

Seems good to me,we need agoalscorer ld

For some strange reason Strikers always exite me.

Jordan Rhodes

For some strange reason Strikers always exite me.

Jordan Rhodes

Alfred Finnbogason

Good morning, and greetings from yet another norwegian

I don't know how much you know about Mame Diouf, but I can shed some light on the traits I remember from his time in Molde FK in Norway.

His most dominating trait back in 2008-2009 was his explosive speed and positioning, and showed himself from his best side in games when the team was relying on counter attacks. In front of a creative midfielder he was pure class in this league (obviously not at the same level as the premier league).
He was not a typical box-striker back then, but he had above average resilience and could also put in some headers.

I've watched him in bundesliga matches after his transfer from england, and by what I've seen he's developed more into a "complete striker" if you could call it that. Solid agility mixed with better physique has really helped him become a better player, and if I'm not wrong he's currently at 23 goals in 49 appearances for Hannover.

The biggest con of Mame Diouf used to be his finishing, he got to alot of chances due to speed and positioning but missed many of his chances. I'm not sure how his finishing abilities have developed lately though.

Personally as a veteran Molde patriot and recently also Cardiff fan I would love to see Mame back in the premier league, and I really think he's matured enough to take this step.

Solskjaer has worked with Diouf for years, he knows exactly what he's about and what the Prem is about.

Being one of the iconic Premiership strikers over the past 2 decades, I think we can trust he knows what he's doing when looking for a striker.