Suddenly, Jarrod Bowen is not the only West Ham United player who may be able to stake a claim for being the best in his position outside of the Premier League’s title-challenging teams.
While they will never admit it, certainly not publicly, there may be a few Arsenal fans who would consider trading in Bukayo Saka for Jarrod Bowen. In a purely hypothetical scenario, of course.
As the Gunners-supporting former England striker Darren Bent said a few months ago, Bowen is a Champions League-level footballer. One whose enduring loyalty to West Ham United comes as a massive relief every time the transfer window opens, and every time one of the division’s most deep-pocketed clubs glance in his direction.
But on a night when Bowen’s ‘magic’ rescued a point against Everton on Nuno Espirito Santo’s Hammers debut, another visiting player cemented himself amongst the Premier League’s elite.
And after Slavia Prague’s president confirmed Chelsea’s and Liverpool’s interest in a certain Senegal international, shortly before he completed that £19 million move to East London in July, the Stamford Bridge faithful and a few at Anfield watched El Hadji Malick Diouf rip Everton to pieces with a great deal of wistfulness.
Their faces as green as the Hill Dickinson turf.
Is Diouf the best left-back in the division right now? That such a question can reasonably be asked, only six games in, is testament indeed to his remarkable early impact.
Liverpool and Chelsea fans rave about West Ham United’s El Hadji Malick Diouf
Jaroslav Tvrdik, the head honcho at Czech champions Slavia Prague, admitted back in January that he had rejected two bids from Crystal Palace for Diouf. He also said that both Liverpool and Chelsea were ‘interested’.
Now, while a Dakar-born full-back who started out in Norway was something of an unknown quantity when he arrived at West Ham a few months ago, it has not taken Diouf long to show the Premier League champions and their West London rivals what they are missing.
“Diouf’s crossing is genuinely unreal,” one Chelsea fan wrote on X after Malick Diouf produced an ‘absolutely extraordinary’ run and cross to assist Jarrod Bowen’s equaliser at Everton.
“I love Malick Diouf. So good,” another says, likening the West Ham number 12 to former Stamford Bridge favourite Marcos Alonso. “Positive in every action, incredible delivery on that left foot. He reminds me of a quicker Alonso.”
“First-time crossers like Diouf are rare to find these days.”
“El Hadji Malick Diouf is the best crosser in the English league.”
“Diouf and [Crysencio] Summerville have looked quality. Bowen is exactly who you want that ball to fall to, too.”
“What a goal that is Bowen. Diouf so, so good by the way. Unreal fullback.”
Jamie Carragher hails Diouf as Milos Kerkez struggles to live up to £40m price-tag
On a night when Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher singled out Diouf for extra post-match praise – a ‘fantastic’ talent with ‘blistering pace’ – his flying start to life in England may have some on the red half of Merseyside wondering if Milos Kerkez really was the best use of funds.
While Liverpool spent £40 million securing Kerkez from Bournemouth, West Ham snapped up Diouf for less than half.
The former is already three behind his fellow left-back, too, in the assist charts, even if Diouf would be denied another against Everton thanks to an attempted clearance from Michael Keane.
“Diouf is an actual unicorn left back,” one Liverpool fan wrote.
“So close to greatness,” another says, reflecting on the Reds’ interest in Diouf at the beginning of 2025. “Diouf was class tonight.
“Diouf is actually very good.”
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