West Ham turning down Sunderland’s £40m offer for El Hadji Malick Diouf and immediately planting a £50m price tag on the Senegalese full-back is a bold stance, but it raises a simple question: is everyone missing the most sensible deal on the table?
Sunderland clearly want Diouf. Diouf is reportedly open to the move. West Ham, meanwhile, are crying out for a striker, outside of Taty Castellanos, with the squad still lacking a genuine centre-forward who fits the system and offers a reliable goal threat. And sitting right there is Wilson Isidor, a player long linked with West Ham, currently at Sunderland, and crucially someone they are said to be willing to sell.
Is an Isidor & Diouf swap deal really out of the question?
Isidor Could Offer An Obvious Solution
It’s almost strange how both clubs are ploughing ahead with separate negotiations when the foundations for a mutually beneficial swap are already in place. Sunderland get their full-back. West Ham get their striker and some cash. Both players get moves they’re open to. And the financials suddenly become far more balanced than this drawn-out haggling over Diouf’s valuation.
In a transfer market where logic often takes a back seat, this feels like the rare situation where a clean, straightforward exchange plus cash deal actually makes the most sense.
Or Is The Parrott Deal Already Close?
Unless, and this is purely speculative, Troy Parrott’s deal is already close to being wrapped up, which would explain why Wilson Isidor has suddenly fallen out of every conversation. That’s the only scenario where his absence makes any real sense. Wishful thinking on my part – or are we all about to be pleasantly surprised!?
Probably trying to get a bidding war going with Brentford.
Does anyone ever do player swaps + cash any more? It used to be a thing but these days maybe complex amortisation on fees makes it less attractive?
I am amazed we have turned down £40m for Diouf. He has some qualities but that is too good an offer to turn down. A swap deal involving Isidor would be a great option as he has shown what he can do in p/l
We also have to be mindful that we are going to have to spend heavily next season should we manage to escape the Championship this season
It’s effectively two transactions Matt, you can call it player swap plus cash but it’s treated as individual deals for regulator reasons but also for the purposes of agents.
You are right though, if the two clubs are talking then you would imagine a deal could be reached if both parties are happy. Which begs the question is there reallly interest in the player?
The only way that would work is if it was £30m + Isidor for Diouf and even then it would be seriously underwhelming considering he isn’t particularly good and has a dodgy knee.
isn’t Isidor injured though Matt ? ? x
I’m pretty sure that Sunderland put out a statement stating that they will not be selling him this transfer window.
So potentially a loan might be viable?
My guess is that they are balancing finance’s, if memories are correct, they spent over £120m upon promotion last season.