El Hadji Malick Diouf insists his sole focus is on West Ham United’s bid for Premier League survival amid links with Manchester United.
Earlier this week, it was claimed that Manchester United want to sign Diouf this summer, following an impressive first season here in east London.
Indeed, Diouf’s market value has soared following a productive first season in the Premier League – one spent while playing for a team who hardly functioned in the first half of the campaign.
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Following a season in which Diouf has registered five assists, it’s natural that he will be in-demand when the summer transfer window opens, regardless of what division West Ham are playing in by that point.
For now, however, the 21-year-old is simply focusing on trying to keep the Hammers in the Premier League.
Diouf praises West Ham’s family-like culture
Diouf was speaking to West Ham’s official website.
The Senegal international said: “We are a family, and we need this at the moment. We know we have to keep improving, but we are all focused on keeping West Ham in the league and delivering for each other and for all of our supporters.
“It’s not going to be easy, and we have four finals to go, but we’re all working hard and concentrating on getting the right result in the next game.”
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If West Ham do need to sell players this summer, Diouf would look like one of their most sellable assets – even if they do stay in the Premier League.
Clearly, no one would actively want to sell the defender. He has enjoyed a fine first season in England amid difficult circumstances and, at 21, has a lot of potential upside.
While West Ham want to keep their key players this summer pending Premier League survival, mounting interest in Diouf is good news for the club.
Obviously, it all depends on staying up, but West Ham could well be in line to field big offers for a player they bought relatively cheaply last summer.
The most upwardly mobile clubs sell players at huge profits before reinvesting wisely. Though West Ham fans may doubt those in charge on that front, perhaps lessons can be learned from the sale of Declan Rice and the subsequent reinvestment.
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