Slavia Prague chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik has suggested that both Liverpool and Chelsea have expressed interest in 20-year-old wing-back El Hadji Malick Diouf.

Tvrdik also disclosed that Crystal Palace had a second, increased offer of around £14.3million turned down for the Senegalese international.

The Eagles' initial bid was approximately £12.5m, but it seems they've returned with an improved proposal.



Czech sources also hint at Brighton potentially joining the race.

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Speaking to media outlet Kudy Bezi Zajic, Tvrdik said: "If Liverpool and Chelsea, who were also interested in him, had come with an offer of around 17-18 million euros, I would have hesitated to approach it differently from the perspective of promoting the club or the player's interest.

"If Chelsea comes, we wouldn't keep anyone.

One has to admit that the Czech league and Slavia have some limits.

"Even PSG, when it comes to breaking the bank, won't keep their player and he'll go to Real.

We're part of a football chain and we're not at the top of it."

The Daily Mirror reported last November that up to nine Premier League clubs had scouted or sought information on Diouf, though it remains uncertain whether Liverpool or Chelsea are as interested as Tvrdik suggests.

Slavia are under no pressure to sell this month, having already sold goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky to Tottenham and winger Matej Jurasek to Norwich City earlier in the transfer window.

The player himself stated last week that he was not eager to rush into a decision, saying: "I can see what is happening around me, but I am definitely not distracted by it.
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