El Hadji Malick Diouf has just dropped his biggest hint yet over which club he could be joining next, with West Ham United and Leeds locked in a battle for the highly rated Senegalese star.
West Ham and Leeds may be competing to stay in the Premier League next season.
So winning the race for a top young talent like El Hadji Malick Diouf could be absolutely crucial to the survival hopes of the Hammers and Elland Road outfit.
The 20-year-old Slavia Prague star’s future has been a major talking point this summer- and now he has dropped the biggest hint yet that a move is imminent.
Leeds swoop to battle West Ham for Diouf
A stagnant summer transfer window in east London suddenly showed signs of life 10 days ago when West Ham were reported to be closing in on a deal for Diouf.
There has been claim and counter claim about the future of the left-back-cum-wing-back and a move to the Hammers ever since.
But while rivals like Leeds United – who are said to have over £100m to spend – get busy by making several signings, the Irons have been left sat on their hands until sales are made due to PSR.
So when Leeds showed a sudden interest in Diouf while the Hammers were waiting to offload Mohammed Kudus, it sparked serious concern at the London Stadium.
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Slavia’s own manager confirmed Diouf was so close to joining West Ham last week that he has been banned from training as the Czech club protects its asset.
Graham Potter and Daniel Farke on the sideline when they met as Brighton and Norwich managers respectively.
Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images
Slavia have good relations with the Hammers after selling them both Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal.
The Czechs are demanding a record cheque of £21.5m for Diouf. But West Ham were £4m off that in their last offer of £17.5m.
Now Kudus has been sold, angry Hammers fans have been demanding David Sullivan and the West Ham board get the deal done for Diouf and other signings.
Especially after it emerged Leeds were now pushing to bring Diouf to Elland Road instead.
That piled the pressure on Sullivan and co back at West Ham.
Diouf’s big hint on next club amid West Ham and Leeds battle
Particularly as Hammers fans have been excited by the possible addition of Diouf after he starred in Senegal’s recent 3-1 win over England.
Leeds United were boosted on their hopes of landing Diouf when West Ham issued a major transfer update following the sale of Kudus.
Because the Hammers hierarchy have insisted they ‘won’t be hurried over signings and must make every penny count’.
With Leeds lurking, West Ham are playing a risky game for a player who has literally been waiting to join the club.
Now the player himself has given a clue where he could end up.
El Hadji Malick Diouf celebrates after England v Senegal - International Friendly
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Because Diouf has dropped a big hint on his next club as West Ham and Leeds battle for his signature.
And if the rising talent is giving an insight on his choice of destination as his Slavia exit edges closer, it is terrible news for West Ham AND Leeds.
Amid the swirling speculation and pressure for West Ham to get the deal over the line, Diouf has taken to social media with a not-so-cryptic post.
Diouf posted a picture of himself in action for Senegal alongside attacking midfielder Lamine Camara with sand timer, finger point and keep quiet emojis.
That Instagram Stories post was re-posted by Camara – who plays for AS Monaco.
‘I’m telling you’ – Diouf’s crushing cryptic hint over Monaco move
Diouf has then re-posted Camara’s re-post – still with us? – with the words ‘ma wakh’ and giggling emoji.
That translates from Wolof as ‘I’m telling you’.
And many fans have taken it to mean Diouf is ‘telling’ the world he is going to be linking up with Camara by signing for Monaco.
If West Ham’s refusal to pay a little bit extra has cost Graham Potter and Kyle Macaulay a top target then supporters will be livid.
Especially after landing the Kudus money this week.
Leeds will be disappointed too of course, and missing out to Monaco rather than Daniel Farke’s side will take the edge off for the Hammers.
But this now feels ominous for the hopes of West Ham and Leeds.
Unless there is to be a dramatic late twist.