Slavia Prague head coach Jindřich Trpišovský has confirmed that the club is already preparing for life without Malick Diouf, with West Ham United pushing to complete a deal for the 20-year-old defender.

Speaking via Slavia’s official media, Trpišovský made it clear that a transfer is expected imminently and that Diouf is no longer involved in regular team training.

“We all suspect that the transfer will happen. It’s just a matter of time. Malick has an individual programme. We don’t want anything to happen to him,” the Slavia boss said. “We take it as if we are without him.”

Slavia Prague Coach Confirms Diouf’s Likely Departure to West Ham

As reported by Claret and Hugh, West Ham are said to be in advanced talks to sign the Senegalese left-sided defender, who’s seen as a high-upside signing for the London club.

Combine that with Trpišovský’s comments – it reflects that Slavia consider Diouf increasingly unlikely to remain, with the club managing his workload carefully to avoid injuries before any move is complete.

“Malick has extraordinary quality, but we are looking at the situation like he’s gone already,” the coach added.

While neither club has publicly confirmed West Ham as the destination, all signs point strongly in that direction.

West Ham in Advanced Talks But Deal Not Official Yet

Despite strong indications from Slavia and growing optimism in East London, no formal announcement has been made. West Ham are understood to be leading the race, but the final terms of the transfer are still being finalised.

There’s been no explicit confirmation from Slavia linking Diouf directly to West Ham, though Trpišovský’s avoidance of naming the club hasn’t stopped speculation. Diouf continues to train on his own while negotiations go on behind the scenes.

Leeds United Making Late Push

West Ham could still face late competition. According to report, Leeds United have made a surprise late enquiry and are attempting to hijack the move.

Their interest throws a late twist into what seemed to be a straightforward path to the London Stadium. For now, it’s unclear how serious Leeds’ approach is or how it might affect West Ham’s position.

Diouf Could Be West Ham’s First Summer Signing

Should the Irons get the deal over the line, Diouf would become the club’s first signing of the summer. The 20-year-old, who has impressed in the Czech league with his pace, awareness, and versatility, fits the kind of young, high-potential profile the club is targeting.

There’s still work to be done, but all signs from Prague suggest West Ham are on the verge of securing his signature—with the Slavia boss now all but confirming the move is only a matter of time.