El Hadji Malick Diouf’s potential move to West Ham appears to be stuck in limbo, with Slavia Prague president Jaroslav Tvrdík openly expressing frustration at the lack of progress.
Speaking to Claret and Hugh, Tvrdík said Slavia had expected the transfer to be wrapped up swiftly and even pulled Diouf from training in anticipation. However, the delay in talks has now forced the Czech club to consider alternative plans.
Slavia Chief: “We Took Diouf Out of Training for This”
Tvrdík confirmed that confidence in the deal was so high that they asked the coaching staff not to involve the 20-year-old defender in first-team preparations.
“We believed negotiations with West Ham would come to a quick end, and we asked the coach not to use Diouf in training,” Tvrdík said. “We have not yet been able to reconcile our ideas with those of the English. If it does not happen, we will enter negotiations to stay.”
Despite earlier optimism, it’s clear the two clubs remain some way apart on key terms, raising doubts over whether the move will happen at all.
Disputes Over West Ham’s Diouf Bid
Conflicting reports have emerged over the status of West Ham’s offer. Fabrizio Romano claimed the Hammers submitted a €20 million bid for Diouf, yet Claret and Hugh report that Tvrdík has pushed back against that claim, suggesting the bid may not match Slavia’s expectations.
What’s not in dispute is the player’s stance. Diouf is believed to have already agreed personal terms with West Ham, but without a breakthrough between the clubs, the transfer remains in deadlock.
Past Deals With Slavia Offer No Guarantees
West Ham’s previous success in signing Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal from Slavia Prague had fuelled hopes that Diouf’s move would be straightforward. But that history now seems to carry little weight.
As talks remain stalled, Slavia are reportedly preparing to reintegrate Diouf into first-team training unless a significant breakthrough is made soon.
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