It hasn’t taken long for El Hadji Malick Diouf – the £19 million summer signing from Slavia Prague – to show Graham Potter and the West Ham United faithful what he’s all about.
There were obvious shades of prime-Aaron Cresswell in the way the Senegal international picked up the ball wide on the left-hand side in West Ham United’s 2-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth, shifted the ball out of his feet, and delivered a devastating left-footed cross towards the penalty spot.
For all of Emerson Palmieri’s qualities, the Brazil-born Italy international never quite hit the same heights as Cresswell did when it came to creating goalscoring chances from left-back.
But as Graham Potter makes Emerson available for transfer and as a now-35-year-old Cresswell drops down a division with Stoke City, it’s no wonder the first few days in claret and blue for El Hadji Malick Diouf have incurred such anticipation.
Graham Potter hails El Hadji Malick Diouf after West Ham United beat AFC Bournemouth
Starved of service throughout much of last season, Niclas Fullkrug cannot wait to link up with Diouf on the Premier League stage.
The German scored in a second successive pre-season match on Sunday too. Diouf’s wicked delivery was pounced upon by a grateful Fullkrug after Bowen belatedly sorted his feet out at the back post.
The Hammers skipper was far more sure-footed when Diouf delivered again in the second-half.
His first assist for his new club, and Bournemouth’s backline powerless to prevent a second well-crafted goal in Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium.
“Malik was positive in terms of his deliveries,” Potter beamed after West Ham ended the Premier League Summer Series with six points out of a possible nine, finishing runners-up to Manchester United. “And his crosses were really good.
“So, yeah, as I said, there are lots of positives, but there are always things we can improve. I think we’ve had good exposure to the sorts of challenges we’re going to face throughout the season, including during the games.
“Training’s been good with the players, so basically I think we’ve just taken an overall step forward. I think we’re more connected and together, which is really good.”
Diouf excited to create more chances for Niclas Fullkrug and Jarrod Bowen
Diouf provided seven goals alongside four assists during his final season for reigning Czech champions Slavia Prague.
It remains to be seen if Potter can find a way to minimise any defensive weaknesses from a man who likes to position himself high and wide when West Ham are in possession though, presuming he can, the devastating quality Diouf brings in an attacking sense should make him an immediate favourite at the London Stadium.
Not only amongst the fans either, but his teammates too.
“I think it’s my power,” Diouf said when asked about his penchant for inch-perfect crosses. “It’s my power because we have good strikers, so every time I’m ready to get this kind of ball, so I just continue to give them this kind of cross.
“I think they will be happy to score goals like that. I think they’ll be happy, and I’ll be happy.
“It’s like that, we are a team, so I’m just looking forward to the matches, just to help the team. We win together and we lose together.
“We played three games, but every game is different. It was a really tough game [against Bournemouth], but we had a good mentality. It was tough, but we were ready to bring the victory, so I think it’s the most important thing for me.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
