El Hadji Malick Diouf sparked concern for West Ham with a cryptic social media post but could it actually signal the club is on the verge of pulling off a sensational double transfer deal.
The update comes as the West Ham board come under increasing pressure to ramp up their summer recruitment after the controversial sale of Mohammed Kudus to Spurs.
It seems every Hammers transfer nowadays turns into something of a saga.
While some Premier League rivals identify players and get deals wrapped up in a matter of days, West Ham’s deals almost always become protracted soap operas.
And that is the case with the man who could and should have been the club’s first signing of the summer nearly two weeks ago now, El Hadji Malick Diouf.
West Ham looked to have suffered crushing Diouf blow
West Ham were reported to be closing in on a deal for Diouf at the end of June.
There has been claim and counter claim about the situation with the Slavia Prague star.
Diouf was so close to joining West Ham last week he was banned from training by Slavia manager’s own admission as the Czech club looks to protect its asset and avoid an injury which could jeopardise a deal.
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A close footballer friend of Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal claimed Diouf was on the verge of joining West Ham.
Slavia’s president has since confirmed that was the case – but Jaroslav Tvrdik said the Hammers board had failed to meet their £21.5m valuation for Diouf following a £17.5m offer that was rejected.
Slavia Prague defender El Hadji Malick Diouf in action against Malmo
Photo by MICHAL CIZEK/AFP via Getty Images
West Ham fans are excited by the prospect of signing left-back-cum-wing-back Diouf.
Especially after his superb performance full of pace, power and guile in Senegal’s recent shock 3-1 win over England.
The prospect of Diouf on the left and Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the right is a game-changer for the Hammers.
But it was all thrown into doubt heading into the weekend, igniting fan fury in the West Ham fanbase.
With Leeds being linked with a move to beat West Ham to Diouf, the Hammers dragging their heels and refusing to pay the extra £4m has left the door open for other clubs to pounce.
Diouf post may be a hint West Ham are on verge of double deal
So it looked like a crushing blow on Friday when Diouf’s social media activity suggested he could now join AS Monaco instead.
However, the situation may have been completely mis-read given what has been reported about Graham Potter’s summer targets.
The Diouf post may actually be a hint West Ham are on the verge of a sensational double deal.
The 20-year-old star posted a picture of himself in action for Senegal alongside Monaco attacking midfielder Lamine Camara with sand timer, finger point and keep quiet emojis.
Diouf’s Instagram Stories post was re-posted by Camara on his own personal account.
Number eight Lamine Camara poses for a team photo with number 25 El Hadji Malick Diouf ahead of Senegal's win over England
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Diouf and Camara hint at Hammers move, not Monaco reunion?
Diouf then re-posted Camara’s re-post with the words ‘ma wakh’ which translates from Wolof as ‘I’m telling you’.
It had originally been taken to mean Diouf is ‘telling’ the world he is going to be linking up with Camara by signing for Monaco.
But previous reports suggest it may be a hint the duo could both be playing together in the claret and blue of West Ham.
The Hammers were already on the hunt for a new attacking midfielder before selling Kudus.
James McAtee and Mario Stroeykens are just two of many players being linked with West Ham in that position.
New head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay has been heavily focusing on Ligue 1 as a market place for West Ham’s targets since he was reunited with Potter in January.
Camara, a technically gifted and skilful midfielder who is also an excellent ball-winner and passer, fits the profile of player the Hammers are targeting – to a tee.
A couple of months ago the 21-year-old’s agent Bassirou Sakho revealed his client was destined to move to the Premier League this summer.
“He has all the qualities to succeed in this championship, and it will also be a new page in his career,” Sakho told Africa Foot at the time.
“Monaco is studying all the offers for his interest but also those of Lamine Camara.”
So while Diouf’s post looked to be the death knell for West Ham’s hopes, could it actually be the best news of the window yet for Potter with two Senegalese stars on their way to east London now the Kudus money has landed?
Hammers fans won’t have to wait too much longer to find out.