RAFAEL Benitez has warned Sam Allardyce he will not get El-Hadji Diouf on the cheap this summer, regardless of his disciplinary record.

The Liverpool manager has put a £4-5 million price tag on the Senegal striker and insists Wanderers can forget converting Diouf's season-long loan into a permanent deal, if they do not match his valuation.

Benitez insists he is not concerned by the player's disciplinary record, and, in the absence of an acceptable offer, he will welcome him back to Anfield.

He said: "We know that Diouf has a contract with us for the future. It's true that he's playing very well at the moment and, as a club, we know it's important to have good players for the squad.

"If Diouf continues playing as well as he has been, then we will wait for an offer of four or five million pounds. If we don't get an offer around that amount then maybe we will use him in the squad next season. It's always important to have good substitutes."

Wanderers are interested in extending Diouf's Reebok stay after seeing him score seven goals in 21 appearances. But Allardyce has suggested the two-time African Player of the Year will struggle to attract a club unless he cleans up his act.

Commenting on his latest misdemeanour - a red card for striking Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann in Saturday's Reebok FA Cup tie - the Reebok boss said: "Will another club take him? I don't know. People would have to consider if they want to put up with this type of scenario, whether they can cope with it.

"This will affect our attitude when it comes to deciding if we attempt to keep him at the end of the season."

Benitez added: "I don't worry about things like that. If we decide to bring him back to the club then he will be involved in the squad, sometimes as a substitute and maybe he can play some games."