West Ham should repeat Malick Diouf trick and sign their own Trent Alexander-Arnold

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There was a point, earlier in the season, when West Ham United’s El Hadji Malick Diouf topped the charts when it came to assists provided by full-backs. Not only for Premier League, either, but across the whole of Europe.

As Malick Diouf set up Jarrod Bowen against Crystal Palace, he became the first full-back in Europe’s major leagues to record three assists in 2025/26.

Now, over a month later, his wait for a fourth drags on.

Though as Diouf earns comparisons to a young Gareth Bale while flying down the flank at Everton – he was only denied another assist because Michael Keane got a touch on his sumptuous delivery on Merseyside – it has taken the Senegal international a handful of Premier League outings to suggest that West Ham United may have found their spiritual successor for one-time ‘King of Crosses’ Aaron Cresswell.

Over at right-back, though, the Hammers are not quite so potent.

The three players to feature at right-back this term – Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Kyle Walker-Peters and Ollie Scarles – are yet to record a single goal or assist between them.

And while reigning Hammer of the Year Wan-Bissaka did produce a career-best five assists during his debut season in East London, he is not the kind of player usually renowned for his pinpoint crosses or his ability to create something out of nothing.

Though after reports over the summer claimed that West Ham are watching Heerenveen’s Oliver Braude, the young Norwegian’s impressive start to the new Eredivisie season suggests he is a right-back who should remain very much in their sights.

Heerenveen’s Oliver Braude should remain a West Ham United transfer target

Give Me Sport reported, back in June, that Oliver Braude had been highlighted as an affordable but high-potential option by the likes of West Ham, Everton, Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Fulham.

None of his Premier League-based suitors would take the plunge before the window closed on September 1st.

More eye-catching displays like those against NAC Breda and Dutch giants Ajax, though, and Heerenveen may see bids rolling in by the time January arrives.

In an interview with Omrop Fryslan back in 2023, Braude opened up on his admiration for then-Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. Even the now-Real Madrid star would be hard pressed doing what the Norway Under-21 international managed during Heerenveen’s 3-3 draw with NAC Breda at the end of October.

Taking the game by the scruff of the neck, Braude created all three of Heerenveen’s goals.

NAC Breda defender Terence Kongolo could not help but flick his head at the youngster’s devilish cross, delivered with his weaker left boot. An underlapping run and a clever pull-back into Maas Willemsen drew the Frieslanders level at 2-2.

Braude would complete a hat-trick of assists when his perfectly flighted pass over the top put Heerenveen ahead for the first time in a topsy-turvy encounter.

In just one match, Braude provided almost as many assists as he had mustered [four] in his previous 74 Heerenveen appearances.

Braude’s determination may be reminiscent of Hammers hero Vladimir Coufal

Yet, speaking again to Omrop Fryslan, the Oslo-born 21-year-old knows that he remains far from the finished product. While Nuno says West Ham have a ‘diamond’ in Malick Diouf, albeit an unpolished one, Braude still has a lot to learn himself before he can consider himself a full-back worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Alexander-Arnold.

“I need to shoot more and get in front of goal more often. I need to play more offensively sometimes,” he said, not content with creating three goals in one match.

“[Also] I need to be smarter in the duels. Then I think I’ll pick up fewer yellow cards. I need to calm down a bit. I want to win, and sometimes my emotions run high.”

A West Ham fanbase who grew to adore Vladimir Coufal – long-time friend Tomas Soucek bid an emotional farewell to a ‘warrior’ when his contract expired in July – would presumably have few problems accepting the occasional mistimed tackle from another all-action right-back who plays with his heart on his sleeve.

“Braude is getting stronger and stronger,” reporter Sander de Vries told Omroep Abe after Saturday’s impressive 1-1 draw away to Ajax. “He really played a good match against Ajax.

“Braude is getting better and better on his feet, he’s gaining physicality. His timing is improving,” agreed co-host Gerald Sibon.

“[There] are still naive things from Braude, [but] he is fierce in his duels and won most of them.”

Could West Ham repeat their El Hadji Malick Diouf trick?

Despite the more short-term additions of Callum Wilson and Kyle Walker-Peters, West Ham’s focus in the transfer market these days appeared fixed on young, hungry players whose best years lie ahead of them.

According to The Athletic, West Ham speed up their pursuit of Malick Diouf after watching him hold down Bukayo Saka during Senegal’s 3-1 win away to England in June. They knew that, if they left it any longer, the 20-year-old could move out of their reach.

With plenty of Premier League clubs already alert to Oliver Braude’s talents, and with the Heerenveen right-back growing by the week, the time may be approaching for the Hammers to repeat the trick.