Forum | General Discussion

West Ham United signed El-Hadji Malick Diouf last summer for £19m plus add-ons, which weren’t achieved throughout that season. Malick Diouf was bought by Graham Potter as he was deemed to be a perfect fit for a ‘Potter System’.

Diouf was a player who struggled to find consistent form and ultimately weaved in and out of having good performances. Despite going away for the World Cup and coming back to the squad during pre-season and showing that he wanted to play for the club, it seems that his head has turned and he has ultimately decided that he wants to move on from West Ham.

As alluded to a couple of days ago, West Ham United have officially sold Diouf to Brentford for a deal worth £40,000,000. The initial fee will be £35,000,000, and there’s a possible £5,000,000 that could be achieved in the future.

The Hammers will now seek a replacement for Malick Diouf and now hope to sign three players within the remaining week of the transfer window, with a left-back, centre-back and a midfielder being the priority.

West Ham: Herrick, Veltman, Golambeckis, Kilman (C), Mayers, Orford, Kante, Lamadrid, Mukasa, Ajala, Piroe
Subs: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Engels, Taty, Solomon, Bowen, Magassa, Scarles, Casey

West Ham United are set to sell several players as the transfer window nears its close, with reports suggesting the Hammers could see FOUR players leave in the remaining nine days.

Edson Alvarez, Soungoutou Magassa, Jean-Clair Todibo and the latest, Malick Diouf are all expected to leave.

Alvarez has numerous clubs interested in him but unfortunately, his wages appear to be a stumbling block for most clubs, Soungoutou Magassa has recently had Crystal Palace develop interest in the young Frenchman so perhaps that could develop in the coming days.

In other news, Marseille agreed personal terms with Jean-Clair Todibo a few weeks ago but developments of the deal are difficult seeing as the French side are currently in a tricky financial situation.

With the other three staring down the barrel of loan deals, Malick Diouf seems to be the only player who could leave permanently and for a significant fee. Sunderland and Brentford both registered interest a few weeks ago but Sunderland have since pulled out, signing an alternative player.

Brentford are keen on signing Malick Diouf but only for the right price. The Hammers are asking for a deal worth £50,000,000, whereas Brentford are looking to conclude a deal worth £38,000,000.

West Ham will look to replace Malick Diouf should he be sold.

In the meantime, a centre-half is still a priority and another forward option is being explored.

Another midfielder option is currently not being considered.

Nine days remain, and West Ham will look to get in two signings without the sale of Malick Diouf. That two will become three signings should the Senegalese international leave.

Lacklustre would be a positive way to put the result.

So far during this transfer window, West Ham have sold high and bought low, which is to be expected of a relegated side, but one thing that they haven’t done is secure and reinforce what was retained, and now the price is being paid.

With the transfer window closing in two weeks, West Ham have yet to sign a central defender to replace Axel Disasi. Nuno has also gotten certain players that he wants in, but the message is clear. More is needed.

A dreadful first goal to concede set the tone for the match. Upon review, it is dreadful defending, and the term “mark your man” must’ve been lost in translation; Hermansen hasn’t covered himself in much glamour either, after the slow reactions cost us the first.

All the possession and nothing to show for it. The Hammers ended the game with an amusing 77% possession but only a sole goal to our name against what’s tipped to be one of the poorer sides in the League.

The second goal was a virtual nightmare. The losing of the ball and a good finish, admittedly, but you cannot make these mistakes in the Championship as it will come back to bite you.

Charlton took advantage of West Ham’s errors, the story is simple.

After debutant Piroe at least provided a sliver of hope with a goal, it was let down when Taty Castellanos hit the post from the penalty spot after we had won a penalty.

This afternoon, there was no excuse for the final score. West Ham should be winning these games and also NEED to if they want to look to secure promotion.

Disappointing in both boxes, and West Ham need to work on both. New signings are also required to help try to gel this team together, as it seems to be currently full of magnetic repulsion.

As well as Pablo and Tomas Soucek being injured, it also now appears that Konstantinos Mavropanos has an injury this afternoon, leaving West Ham with the only possible central defender pairing of Max Kilman and Joel Veltman.

These are crucial times for West Ham, they simply cannot mess up the remainder of this transfer window. That is a must.