Last night we ran an article breaking the story that West Ham were closing in on El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague.

At that time, the information was coming from an unverified Czech source who claimed the deal was already confirmed. Naturally, with the source being unverified, we weren’t completely sure how much weight to put behind it.

Further Diouf to West Ham Confirmation

Reports from Czech outlet Deník Sport are now saying the deal is “practically agreed” and that West Ham and Slavia Prague have found a structure that works for both sides.

It’s expected to include bonuses to bring the value up to Slavia’s requested €25 million. That adds credibility to what we heard yesterday and confirms that the move has moved into advanced stages.

Advanced Talks for Diouf

Reports from Claret & Hugh are echoing the same thing: West Ham have been in discussions with Slavia Prague for several days. While the initial offer fell short of Slavia’s valuation, talks have continued and both sides seem confident in reaching the final agreement.

A West Ham transfer source, quoted by the outlet, said: “They’re definitely talking to the club and the player. I think they’ll get it over the line.” Personal terms aren’t believed to be a problem, so it’s mainly about tying up the fee structure at this point.

Agreement Close Thanks to Bonuses

The big shift seems to have come with the structure of the deal. As Deník Sport is now reporting, the total package will include add-ons to satisfy the Prague side’s €25 million target. That looks like the breakthrough and brings the move far closer to the finish line than it might have seemed 24 hours ago.

What felt a bit speculative last night now has more solid backing. If Deník Sport are right here, and the remaining details get ironed out, West Ham could very well have their first signing of the summer.

Another Slavia Connection

Should the deal be completed, Diouf would follow the same path as Tomáš Souček and Vladimír Coufal, both of whom joined West Ham from Slavia Prague. That established relationship between the clubs seems to be paying off again.

Diouf, 20, has also previously been linked with Atalanta, though there’s been no recent movement from the Italian side. That silence has only boosted West Ham’s chances of sealing the deal.

As it stands, nothing’s been officially announced yet. But with C&H and Deník Sport now backing up last night’s claims, there’s real confidence that this one’s close.