Every year it seems the Premier League spends more than ever before: No different this summer of ’25 when a truly staggering £3 billion – that’s an awful lot of “zero’s”- has been spent by the top twenty clubs in English football. West Ham’s modest £77 ,million, including the payment for last summers signing Jean-Clair Todibo seems a drop in the ocean alongside some of the top tier spenders.
However, proving that it is not all about the cash, one West Ham signing has already been tipped for greatness after his modest £21m capture. Broadcaster and news site espn.co.uk compiled their list of ‘who will prove to be the best under the radar signing this summer” and named El Hadji Malick Diouf as one who will prove to be an astute signing.
“20-year-old El Hadji Malick Diouf was also tipped in some quarters to be one of the smartest signings of the window” starts the report, then highlighting the Senegalese left backs late-on match winning contribution against Nottingham Forest as reason enough to rate him highly:
…Diouf had already played a key role in Jarrod Bowen’s 84th-minute opener, starting the move that ultimately led to his goal with a throw-in down the Irons’ left flank, before setting up Callum Wilson for their third in the 91st minute…. as he sent in a looping cross which picked out Wilson just outside the six-yard box, leaving the Englandinternational with a simple header from close range.
Despite the Hammers’ toil so far this season, only Jack Grealish has more assists than the West African, with Diouf looking remarkably comfortable as he makes the sizeable leap from Slavia Prague and the Czech top flight to English football.”
Appearing calm, shy almost, the 20 year old can defend as well as attack but is likely to catch the eye at West Ham for those stellar crosses. An extremely astute piece of business by Potter and Macaulay, even as fans were wondering why the club had prioritised a left back. Not just any left back, as we have already discovered, just three games in to the season.
”Fantastic-Footballer” with a beautiful left peg. and worth every penny of the transfer-fee. mark my words, if he carries on the way he’s playing till the next summer-window we’ll have all the-big-wigs swarming around us like bees around the honey pot wanting 2 take him off of us you watch. but we’ll have a release-clause on him of 60 mill, but knowing us we’ll sell him 4 35 mill lol C O Y I’s.
Cheers Paull.
Can’t fault Macaulay and Graham Potter for their recruitment selections, in fact they are doing what everyone bought into and more.
Diouf, Fernandes and Magassa all young, athletic, sought after players and they change overnight the way the whole team is able to play – that’s impressive.
The players we’ve kept too, while Kudus stopped playing for WHU a long, long time ago, Aguerd, did not work out, …
Now its up to the manager.
Looking at the picture above, I was conned into thinking the story was about Callum Wilson. However I totally agree with espn’s opinion that El Hadji Malick Diouf is possibly the summer’s best under the radar signing. So far, so very good!
Oh, and Callum Bloody Wilson has changed my negative thinking after his excellent performances in the last couple of games so maybe he could be the best over the radar signing. So he shall hereafter be known as Callum Bloody Brilliant Wilson. Or maybe just Callum Wilson.
Been really impressed with Diouf, great signing and seems like a decent, well grounded fella based on the interviews and videos seen so far – seemingly “the right type of character” that Potter keeps talking about.
Was nice to see Wilson celebrating with him for setting up his goal against Forest, I’m guessing he’s been bigging up his crosses in training to help him bolster his cash bonuses, which is no bad thing for anyone!