According to a report this afternoon West Ham are planning for life after one of their recent summer 2025 signings, as yet unsure whether he plans to depart but lining up a replacement as a contingency.
It seems the Hammers are looking to Sheffield United’s left back as a replacement should their main man for most of the 2025/6 season – el Hadji Malik Diouf – depart before the start of the Championship campaign.
Diouf has made no secret of his desire to play for a top six club and so the preparation by West Ham is entirely understandable.
Football Insider make the claim in their article today:
“West Ham Source: El Hadji Malick Diouf sale to trigger Harrison Burrows bid:
West Ham United are ready to firm up their interest in Sheffield United left-back Harrison Burrows if El Hadji Malick Diouf leaves this summer, sources at the club have told Football Insider.
The Irons have already identified Burrows as a clear target for the left side of their defence, but are delaying any offer until they get more clarity on Diouf’s long-term future. …
Diouf – already an established international at West Ham United – could be on his way out this summer
Sources have indicated that they would want a “big profit” on their previous £4million investment in the 24-year-old, and will try to price West Ham out of a move. “
Similarly, presumably the Irons would only let Diouf part for the same ‘big profit‘ on the deal which brought the Senegalese to London last year for £21 million.
Which, you’d have to say, on his current patchy form defensively, looks unlikely.
nothing against the young man Diouf’s ambitions Martin but if you want to play for a top 6 club then you have to be a top 6 club defender and at the moment , as you say , he’s only probably a top 6 championship defender so someone would have to take a very big chance on him and pay an awful lot of money to take that chance just like we did ! when he’s good he’s good but when he’s bad he can be Dick Emery awful x