West Ham United are on course to make an improved offer to sign El Hadji Malick Diouf after the Slavia Prague star has given indications that he is keen to complete a switch to the London Stadium ahead of the upcoming campaign getting underway, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.
Hammers head coach Graham Potter is determined to secure reinforcements as he prepares for his first full term at the helm and, having seen Mohammed Kudus make a £55million move to arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, the capital club are heading into the weekend with greater scope to splash the cash.
Central defender Jean-Clair Todibo has joined West Ham on a permanent basis for £32.8million, following an initial loan spell from Nice, but there is a strong desire to ensure further acquisitions are made before heading to newly-promoted Sunderland for their season-opener next month.
Diouf Open to Making London Stadium Switch
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El Hadji Malick Diouf celebrating after Senegal's win over England
Diouf is interested in sealing a move to West Ham, according to GMS sources, and there is an expectation that Slavia Prague's resolve will be tested with a fresh bid in the coming days after Kudus' departure has given the east Londoners a much-needed budget boost for the remainder of the summer transfer window.
The Hammers have already made an attempt to land the Senegal international, only to have a bid worth in the region of £17million rejected earlier this month, but they have remained keen to reach an agreement and are planning to return to the negotiating table with a more lucrative proposal.
GMS sources have been informed that Diouf is open to embarking on a fresh challenge at West Ham, which will come as a significant boost for Potter, but influential figures behind the scenes are fearful of being dragged into a bidding war for his signature after he enjoyed a productive 2024/25 campaign.
El Hadji Malick Diouf's statistics for Slavia Prague this season
The left-sided midfielder, whose versatility means that he is also capable of being deployed in defence, has been described as being 'Champions League level' and 'powerful' but there is an awareness at the London Stadium that they are facing competition from Premier League counterparts ahead of the September 1 deadline.
Newly-promoted Leeds United and Crystal Palace are threatening to go head-to-head with West Ham for a deal as they have been eyeing Diouf, GMS sources have learned, while there are also admirers on the continent who are weighing up whether to up the ante by lodging a formal bid.
Hammers Fear Diouf Price Tag Will be Inflated
Concerns growing that demands for 20-year-old will increase
El Hadji Malick Diouf in action for Slavia Prague
GMS sources have been told that West Ham are fearful that Slavia Prague will attempt to take advantage of their increased budget - thanks to the exit of Kudus - by inflating their demands for Diouf, but they are not prepared to pay whatever it takes to get the deal over the line and will focus on alternative targets if he is out of their reach.
The Hammers have been hoping to profit from already having a strong relationship with the 20-year-old's current employers as they signed central midfielder Tomas Soucek for £19.1million, following a fruitful loan spell in 2020, and the now departed Vladimir Coufal from the Czech side.
West Ham will only proceed with recruiting Diouf if they can negotiate what they deem to be a fair fee after they initially made contact earlier in the transfer window, GMS sources understand, and they are desperate to avoid being dragged into a bidding war as he is only admired by some members of the recruitment team.
West Ham United head coach Graham Potter on the touchline Related
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GMS sources recently revealed that the east Londoners are attempting to encourage Juventus to make a bid for Nayef Aguerd as his departure would give Potter even more funds to spend on fresh faces, and there remains an eagerness to raid Slavia Prague as the new Premier League campaign edges closer.
All statistics courtesy of Sofascore - correct as of 11/07/2025
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