El Hadji Malick Diouf to West Ham United looked just about done.
We even reported here on HammerBytes that talks were advanced, with Slavia Prague’s own manager coming out and saying Diouf’s departure was inevitable. Naturally, everyone assumed that meant a move to London Stadium.
But things have taken a wild turn: Leeds United are trying to swoop in, and there’s a real chance they could beat West Ham to the punch.
Diouf transfer threat grows as Leeds push for deal
The Championship side have suddenly added Diouf to their summer shortlist, according to a report from LeedsUnited.news, in a move that seemingly comes out of nowhere. But with West Ham’s £17.25 million bid turned down, there’s now a window for Leeds to get involved and if they go all in, this transfer could flip on its head.
Leeds’ pursuit of Diouf isn’t just paper talk. The 20-year-old caught plenty of eyes with his standout performance for Senegal in their recent 3-1 win over England. Lined up at left centre-back in a 3-4-3, he kept Bukayo Saka uncharacteristically quiet, something that won’t have gone unnoticed by scouts.
Now, Leeds are reportedly accelerating discussions behind the scenes. Their interest is more than speculative, and with the club actively strengthening all over the pitch, Diouf fits the profile they’re after: young, versatile, and full of upside.
West Ham offer rejected, Leeds ready to pounce
It’s no secret West Ham had a intial bid for Diouf knocked back. That offer, including add-ons, seemed to spark optimism, with most reports suggesting a deal was all but over the line since then. We were right there with it and had every reason to believe the deal was nearing completion.
But Slavia Prague are holding out for £21.6 million. The Hammers have been pushing, yes, but hesitation or an unwillingness to go higher could open the door wide for Leeds.
If Leeds come in hard, possibly even meeting that full valuation, this suddenly becomes their deal to lose.
Leeds’ summer window gains serious momentum
Leeds aren’t messing around this summer. Their recruitment drive has already landed Lukas Nmecha, Jaka Bijol, and Sebastiaan Bornauw. A deal for Gabriel Gudmundsson from Lille is also said to be close, with a fee of around £8.6 million.
They’re clearly aiming to beef up defensively, and Diouf’s ability to cover multiple roles across the backline and midfield makes him a perfect fit. Some comparisons have already been made to Stuart Dallas, and it’s easy to see why.
West Ham may have been tracking Diouf for months, but Leeds are peaking at just the right time. After all the waiting, negotiation, and assumptions, what a blow that would be.
