West Ham United are tracking a trio of Senegalese players after sending scouts to the recent international fixture against England, according to The West Ham Way. The club’s recruitment team, led by Graham Potter and Kyle Macaulay, is working through a long list of summer targets as part of a planned rebuild.
Among those catching the Hammers’ attention were Habib Diarra and El Hadji Malick Diouf. There was also a third player they came to look at but that player did not feature in the game.
Diarra Draws the Crowds
The main focus of the trip was Habib Diarra. The Strasbourg midfielder, just twenty years old, is also being closely watched by Leeds United and others.
Diarra has earned plaudits for his aggressive midfield style and is already being tipped for a move away from France.
Eyes on Diouf
While there, scouts also followed up on prior interest in El Hadji Malick Diouf.
The 20-year-old defender plays for Slavia Prague, the same club that brought Tomáš Souček and Vladimír Coufal to east London. Diouf started and completed the full ninety minutes against England.
Speaking via The West Ham Way Patreon, insider ExWHUEmployee said:
“Scouts were at the England v Senegal game to watch Habib Diarra who is attracting strong interest from Leeds at the moment as well as other clubs.”
“Whilst watching him they were also following up some initial interest in defender El Hadji Malick Diouf of Slavia Prague (the same club Soucek and Coufal were signed from).”
Jakobs Monitored from the Bench
A third name mentioned was Ismail Jakobs. The left-back, currently with AS Monaco, didn’t make it onto the pitch, but West Ham’s team were keeping tabs regardless. It’s unclear how advanced the interest is at this stage.
“We also were keeping an eye on left back Ismail Jakobs although he didn’t get on the pitch,” ExWHUEmployee added.
Possible Reunion with Senegalese Talent
Should any move materialise, it would mark the first Senegalese signing for the Irons since Cheikhou Kouyaté. The midfielder was a fan favourite during his four-year spell with the club, making over 100 appearances.
With several senior players expected to depart this summer, West Ham’s recruitment drive appears to be gaining pace.
