Leeds United are among the Premier League clubs to have been linked with a move for Slavia Prague defender El Hadji Malick Diouf.
West Ham United are reportedly in pole position to sign the Senegal international, despite seeing an opening offer of £17.25m plus add-ons knocked back for the marauding left-back, who can also operate as a wing-back. The Czech club are said to be holding out for an initial fee of £17.25m for Diouf as part of an overall £21.6m package.
Slavia Prague boss Jindřich Trpišovský expects Diouf to move on to pastures new this summer amid transfer links to United, West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Atalanta. Diouf is currently training away from the main group as Slavia Prague continue their preparations ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. The 20-year-old has not featured in their three pre-season friendlies so far.
Trpišovský told Czech outlet Idnes: "[The situation] is still the same. We all suspect that a transfer will happen, it's just a matter of time. Malick has an individual program, we don't want anything to happen.
“He is a player who has extraordinary quality, he will have it in the future. Slavia's demands need to be satisfied. We take it as we are without him.”
While United are closing in on a deal for Lille full-back Gabriel Gudmundsson, there is a strong chance the Premier League new boys will look to sign another player capable of playing on the left side of their defence. Junior Firpo and Max Wober departed the club last week and it remains to be seen if Sam Byram will commit his future to the club. Contract talks have taken place with Byram's representatives but an agreement has yet to be reached.
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