West Ham United defender El Hadji Malick Diouf has admitted he sees himself “at a top club” before too long.
[WIW Sport cover comments](https://wiwsport.com/2025/11/11/el-hadj-malik-diouf-prend-nuno-mendes-comme-exemple-pour-progresser-defensivement-a-nous-de-travailler-pour-etre-forts/) from the West Ham star after he appeared on Canal+. He spent that appearance discussing his development with the Hammers and where he sees himself in the future.
The 20-year-old joined West Ham in the summer transfer window in a €22m move from Slavia Prague. That could end up rising to €25m with potential add-ons.
He’s proven to be a big hit at the London Stadium so far, impressing despite West Ham’s struggles this season. Crucially, Diouf appears to have adapted quickly to life in the Premier League.
If he continues to impress, then attention from big clubs may return. He had previously been linked with the likes of Liverpool. Now he admits he wants such a move before too long.
_“Ideally, I see myself at a top club, among the five best in the world,”_ he said.
_“I think I have the potential to get there through hard work. And I hope, God willing, to achieve that. I’ve only been playing professionally for two years, so I’m remaining patient.”_
West Ham player takes inspiration from PSG star
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If such a move is to happen, then Diouf knows that improvements will have to be made. And one area the West Ham player wants to get better in is defensively.
He’s considered more of a modern full-back than a traditional defensive one. But it appears he’s been looking to learn from the best in the world on that front. That’s led him to taking particular attention to Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes.
_“I saw Nuno Mendes say that two years ago, he wasn’t yet at his best defensively,”_ he added.
_“But look at him today, he’s strong. I think he’s also an example. It’s simply up to us to work hard to be strong there.”_