Bowyer's Anfield deal is off

News of Bowyer's failure to reach an early agreement with Liverpool will alarm the Elland Road plc board, which was already counting on his sale to reduce their debts and ease the pressure on them to sell Ferdinand.

They now still have the problem of finding the cash and will be determined to off-load Bowyer before his contract expires, even at a reduced fee.

It will also have filtered through to Old Trafford and the Stadium of Light, where Sunderland manager Peter Reid still has an £8m fee agreed for Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane. Michael Duberry is set to join the Elland Road exodus after rejecting the chance to fight for a first-team place.

The 26-year-old, a £4.5m signing from Chelsea in 1999, fell out of favour under David O'Leary and received abuse from some fans over his role in the court cases involving Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate. Duberry signed a five-year deal with Leeds in December but is determined to move on, despite the change of manager, and has already attracted interest from Blackburn, Bolton and Everton.

Liverpool have completed the £10m signing of Senegal striker El-Hadji Diouf, who has agreed a five-year deal.

The 21-year-old Lens striker raised his profile during the World Cup Finals, where his country beat France in the opening game. He flew to Merseyside yesterday and will head to their training camp in Switzerland after Friday's friendly against Le Havre in France. Diouf will be joined later in the season by Senegal team-mate Salif Diao, who will arrive from French club Sedan.