adminSenegal international El Hadji Malick Diouf is poised to become the latest player to leave West Ham United following their relegation from the Premier League.
The 21-year-old was one of the Hammers’ standout performers last season, but after just one year at the London Stadium, he is now closing in on a move to Brentford.
The Bees have reached an agreement with West Ham over a deal for the left-back. Diouf featured in West Ham’s first two matches of the campaign under Nuno Espirito Santo but has not been included in the squad since.
His departure has appeared increasingly likely since West Ham’s relegation, with the Senegal defender widely expected to attract offers from clubs looking to secure his services.
West Ham Set for Major Profit on Diouf
Brentford’s interest in Diouf has been widely reported, and the west London club now looks set to win the race for his signature.
West Ham initially paid Slavia Prague £19 million for the defender last summer. However, Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas reported on August 26 that Brentford have agreed to pay £35 million upfront, with a further £5 million available in add-ons.
That would represent a significant profit for the Hammers after just one season, particularly given that Diouf had also attracted interest from another club.
There are still some final details to resolve, including a medical, but the player is reportedly keen to complete his move to the Gtech Community Stadium.
Nuno Espirito Santo Faces Defensive Concerns
Nuno Espirito Santo retained his position at West Ham because the club’s hierarchy believes he is the right manager to guide them straight back to the Premier League.
However, despite his previous success in securing promotion with Wolves, the Portuguese coach may not have the same quality of squad at his disposal in East London.
West Ham still have the same goalkeeper, while their defensive options appear even weaker than the group that struggled during their relegation campaign.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diouf were arguably among the Hammers’ most reliable defenders in recent seasons, but both are now heading for the exit door.
Nuno’s current full-back options include Joel Veltman, Kyle Walker-Peters and Oliver Scarles, while Konstantinos Mavropanos has endured a difficult start to the season and Max Kilman has yet to rediscover his best form.
With another key defender now on the verge of leaving, West Ham supporters have every reason to be concerned about the state of the defence as the club attempts to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
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