While the pursuit of Slavia Prague’s El Hadji Malick Diouf drags on, West Ham United are now one alternative left-back target down thanks to Premier League rivals Brighton and Hove Albion.
Aaron Cresswell left the London Stadium as a free agent on July 1st.
It is understood that Emerson Palmieri will leave West Ham too, albeit Real Betis backed out of signing the former Chelsea star recently.
Now, Hammers News can confirm that Senegal international El Hadji Malick Diouf is the number one target to replace Cresswell and/or Emerson. Slavia Prague reportedly rejected a £17 million bid this week as they hold out for £21.5 million.
But if West Ham United had identified Maxim de Cuyper as an alternative, presuming a deal cannot be agreed with the Czech champions, then Brighton and Hove Albion have now wrecked those plans.
Maxim de Cuyper lines up before a Champions League match between Atalanta v Club Brugge
Photo by Stefano Nicoli/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Maxim de Cuyper joins Brighton amid West Ham United interest
Hammers News have been informed, by football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that West Ham were asking about Maxim de Cuyper.
Club Brugge’s Belgian international was linked with Arsenal, too. It’s not a summer window unless the Gunners have signed a new left-back, after all.
But it is Brighton who have now secured De Cuyper’s services for a fee in the region of £20 million.
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Unsurprisingly, when the 24-year-old was officially unveiled by The Amex outfit on Saturday afternoon, head coach Fabian Hurzeler wasted no time mentioning the attacking qualities De Cuyper brings from left-back.
“Maxim is a creative left-back who has great experience at Champions League level as well as in the domestic league,” Hurzeler tells the official Seagulls website.
“He has a great reputation for creativity and has shown his ability across different positions, although we primarily see him challenging for a left-back spot with us.
“Maxim arrives having won the league and cup in recent years with Brugge, so it’s great that despite his young age, he clearly has a winner’s mentality. We’re excited to work with him.”
De Cuyper provided four goals and seven assists during his final season at Club Brugge, while helping them reach the last-16 of the Champions League. The all-action 24-year-old set up a staggering 15 goals in the previous campaign.
A rasping drive from the edge of the box during a 2-2 draw between Belgium and Italy in October of last year, meanwhile, was arguably the stand-out moment of his young career.
West Ham still want Raphael Onyedika and El Hadji Malick Diouf
Speaking of Club Brugge, Hammers News understands that Kyle Macaulay has chosen Raphael Onyedika as the first-choice central midfield target at the London Stadium.
Onyedika played alongside De Cuyper at the Jan Breydel Stadium. West Ham like Ardon Jashari too – the stylish Swiss playmaker – but he looks likely to join AC Milan.
As for Diouf, claims that the Slavia Prague ace is due to fly to London this weekend appear to be wide of the mark.
West Ham are still pushing hard to bring the 20-year-old to the English capital, though, even if things are not quite as advanced as some reports would suggest.