- Everton open talks for West Ham’s El Hadji Malick Diouf ahead of United.
- Hammers demand £24m for the Senegal left-back contracted until 2030.
- Merseysiders seek defensive upgrade to beat Erik ten Hag to versatile fullback.
Everton have opened discussions to sign West Ham defender El Hadji Malick Diouf, and are now ahead of Manchester United in the pursuit of the Senegalese left-back, according to reports from Football Insider.
Diouf, 21, moved to the London Stadium from Slavia Prague last summer. Despite a terrible campaign, which ended in the Hammers’ relegation, Diouf emerged as a rare bright spot.
In 32 top-flight appearances, he registered five assists and contributed to six clean sheets, performances that confirmed his place in his national squad for the World Cup.
Contracted to Hammers until 2030
West Ham’s relegation has inevitably alerted the rest of the Premier League to their saleable assets, and Everton have already identified the fullback as a target to add depth to their defensive options. But they face stiff competition from Old Trafford.
Securing Diouf’s services won’t come cheap, though. Despite their relegation, West Ham have tied Diouf down to a long-term contract – it runs until 2030 – and he is currently valued in the region of £24m.
Diouf is left-sided and comfortable operating as either a left-back or a wing-back. He’s powerful, has good recovery pace, has Premier League physicality, and is a good crosser of the ball; all of which make him a good fit for an Everton squad that desperately needs strengthening both defensively and down the left side.
Competition from United
Currently, Vitaliy Mykolenko has the stripes and has been largely unopposed for the shirt, with Adam Aznou yet to prove to David Moyes that he has fully adapted to the physical demands of Premier League football. Diouf would add immediate competition and also tactical flexibility given his comfort in the wing-back role.
But Manchester United’s interest comes from a similar place. They too need to strengthen their left side, with Luke Shaw continuing to suffer from niggling injuries, and his rival for the left-back role, Patrick Dorgu, is seen by United as potentially taking a more advanced left-wing role in the longer-term. That leaves them short of natural, defensive depth on that side of the pitch.
Both clubs appear to have the Senegalese defender on their respective radars, but Everton’s early groundwork may have just edged ahead in the race for Diouf.
