By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
West Ham are giving serious thought to accepting Brentford’s offer for Senegalese left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, Claret & Hugh has learned within the past few minutes.
Speaking exclusively to our top transfer source, we asked firstly whether rumours of interest from Brentford were accurate, but secondly, and more importantly, whether the Hammers were seriously considering sanctioning the player’s departure.
Unfortunately, the answer appears to be yes.
West Ham have already generated around £170 million in player sales following the exits of Mateus Fernandes, Crysencio Summerville and Freddie Potts.
However, it would seem the fire sale may not be stopping there, with 21-year-old Diouf now highly likely to be sold as well.
West Ham are open to selling Diouf
Source expects Diouf to leave
When we asked our insider whether Nuno Espírito Santo and recruitment director Nils Koppen were seriously considering sanctioning the deal, we were told:
“Yes, I think it will happen. I think he’ll go to Brentford, but others are interested.”
The revelation follows previous interest in Diouf following West Ham’s relegation, but the suggestion that the club are now prepared to sell is a significant development.
It also raises serious questions about what West Ham intend to do with the considerable transfer income already generated this summer.
As we’ve previously looked at, Diouf was recruited as exactly the sort of young player West Ham should be attempting to develop — somebody capable of contributing to the first team while increasing significantly in value.
Clearly, that increase in value has now happened.
The question is whether West Ham should be cashing in quite so soon.
Our source certainly appears to believe they will, although the warning that other clubs are interested suggests Brentford may not have a completely clear run at the Senegal international.
Finally signs of the Brighton “model” taking shape.
Bite their f###in hands off and PLEASE reinvest.
Exciting to watch when going forward but way off of the pace defending. Poor support from static midfield when making forward runs hampered his performances . £50m a good price as long as it is reinvested. We seem to be buying cut price championship players not building for a Premiership return… COYI
If the money would be used to buy the likes of Parrott, Engels etc then makes sense because we do have decent young talent in that position. But the worry is that it will go the same way as the earlier sales and not go towards a decent squad rebuild. Feels like the folks in the boardroom are hindering not helping again, we will all regret it if we don’t seize the opportunity this season.
Not many left backs are sold for £40m in world football. He delivers a great cross but is defensively suspect. Don’t think Scarles will ever be Premier League standard but should be enough to get us through this season.
Staveley’s offer has meant Kretinsky has to buy all of Gold’s shares now which may have scuppered his plans to put £90m into the club, hence the need to sell more. We need a striker over a left back.
This is our reality now, sadly. Nice one, Nuno
Spot on.
Key point, thank you Nuno…
i agree as well. if we had stayed up i would have hoped that we sold Diouf and upgraded. if he stayed and we got back up, i still would sell him and upgrade. do it now. take the money before he gets found out. good but not good enough for prem. gotta take the gamble now
If Brentford are offering £40 million for him then I would bite their hands off. Bloke can’t defend, gets caught out of possession regularly. Ok he can cross a ball. Sometimes.
Is there anyone who still believes a single word Kretinsky tells us? If we sell a 22 year old with so much potential and who is on a long-term contract, just 12 months after buying him, then we cannot believe a single word this guy is telling us. “No other player has to be sold (following the departures of Fernandes and Summerville)” Same old yarn, different mouth. Three 22 year olds and a 26 year old gone for £200m and a 28 year old and a 34 year old in for £7m. Engles, Parrott and Neilson would be barking mad to come anywhere near us. Circus. When Sully was sidelined I saw a great opportunity to start to put things right. I’m surer than ever it won’t happen if Kretinsky hangs around.
You’re not still falling for the agents “full of potential” rubbish are you. He has no more potential than any other 21 year old at the club. He has no more potential than Scarles other than being a big African, which seems to be the go to type player at the moment due to their athleticism rather than their ability. His potential is purely based on sell on fee and not playing potential. Give it maybe another season and another year of being “raw” his value will stall. How long will he still have potential as opposed to someone like Scarles, Orford, Earthy or Potts who get written off at the first signs of inexperience.
What if the player wants to go?
Maybe Diouf had an issue with his 1st class letter taking 4 days to reach its destination and that annoyed him.
Who really knows but to blame Kretinsky seems crazy. For £40m based on his hot and cold performances last year I’d say that’s b@@@@@ good business.
whilst i’d like Diouf to stay Kris there’s times last year where he was exposed or possibly embarrrised defensively , whether that was because of the performance of the team or his own abilities only time will tell , as will whether he is able to be coached to learn those skills , £40 million is an awful lot of money for an unproven left-back , so maybe we should try to recruit another exactly the same sort of young player and be attempting to develop them so we can continue the financially profiting trend x
Please tell me this is a joke
whilst i’d like Diouf to stay Kris there times last year where he was exposed or possibly embarrrised defensively , whether that was because of the performance of the team or his own abilities only time will tell , as will whether he is able to be coached to learn those skills , £40 million is an awful lot of money for an unproven left-back , so maybe we should try to recruit another exactly the same sort of young player and be attempting to develop them so we can continue the financially profiting trend x
This is the one position on the entire pitch where we can realistically cover it with academy products. Scarles needs more experience, although he does seem to get a nosebleed whenever he crosses the halfway line. Mayers, though, looks like a really promising young player to me, he seems built for the modern game.
If we do need to dip into the market for a full-back, there will be plenty of players of a similar calibre to Diouf available. He’s not a bad player by any means, but IMO he’s nowhere near worth £40m.
If its true that £40 million is being offered then best to sell as suspect the player wants it as not in team so far. We will need to keep money in reserve as if promoted further strengthening will be required!
Some great attacking runs and crosses but I can easily remember at least a handful of goals that were down to his poor defending or positioning last season. Also his throw ins…. genuinely seen better from an 8 year old.
Scarles seems to be lacking something, confidence maybe, but he should hopefully get by as left back in this league therefore making 100% profit for Diouf after 1 year is pretty good going. At least he never spat on anyone like his old namesake.
Read about this earlier this morning. Apparently a 40m bid will get him
Simply dreadful. Increasingly feels like Kretinsky lied to the fans, although I think the Staveley nonsense has probably lymprevented him from making a cash injection.
Has anyone realised that West Ham are skint.
They are technically. Kretinsky has the funds to inject cash, but won’t while the Staveley fiasco continues. However, as soon as that started Bowen shouldn’t be given a way out. He’s not exactly been lied to, but it’s a defacto stitch up thanks to Staveley.
What on earth must Bowen be thinking, this is reminiscent of when that other clown Terry Brown sold off any player with two legs after we got relegated back in the summer of 20003
Still a circus 🎪🤡
Wow are you from the future Dave? A lot must have changes in 18,000 years
Player are.being used to clear debt as the board still have not put funds into club. I think we probably have a small transfer budget Diouf money will be added to it. Fernandez and Sunmerville was used to pay debt. Boardroom turmoil is forcing us into tough choices.
Budget as per earlier article £40m