Tomas Soucek has offered a fascinating insight into how Slavia Prague’s players and staff truly feel about El Hadji Malick Diouf sealing a move to West Ham.
Czech midfielder Tomas Soucek knows the transition from Slavia to West Ham better than most having played for his boyhood club before signing for the Hammers.
Given Soucek helped grease the wheels of the Czech record initial £19m deal, he is well placed to talk about the signing of El Hadji Malick Diouf.
After weeks of talks and two rejected bids, the Hammers finally got a deal done with Slavia Prague to bring the 20-year-old flying left wingback to east London.
Will Diouf complete the perfect Slavia hat-trick for West Ham?
It is a path trodden by both Soucek and his firm friend Vladimir Coufal, who was released by Graham Potter last month.
While Soucek and Coufal made the jump from Czech football to the English top flight look easy, that’s not always the case for players from inferior leagues.
Given West Ham sold Mohammed Kudus for a knockdown £54.5m, the Diouf deal, which could rise to £23m with add-ons, is a sizeable outlay by Hammers standards when it comes to fullbacks.
The arrival of Diouf stirred excitement among Hammers fans after his brilliant performance in Senegal’s 3-1 win over England last month.
He underlined his talent by impressing in his first outing for West Ham against Grasshoppers.
Diouf came on in the second half of that 3-1 win and he shone from the first moment.
Bursting with pace, power and energy, Diouf was a constant threat, always available and always in space.
He got to the by-line countless times and was unlucky with some of his crosses not to get at least a couple of assists.
Soucek on what Slavia really think about Diouf joining West Ham
West Ham’s owners and Potter were very impressed with Diouf after his first minutes in the claret and blue.
Although he has proven a capable player at international level already, it is one thing playing in the Czech league and against Grasshoppers in pre-season compared to the pressure cauldron that is the Premier League.
So will the new acquisition be up to it?
Now West Ham favourite Soucek has revealed what those at his former side really think about Diouf and it seems the Hammers are right to be buzzing about landing the Senegalese defender.
Soucek: Slavia raving about Hammers new boy Diouf
Soucek says he already knew Diouf would be a good signing having watched him play regularly for his beloved Slavia.
And the midfielder has revealed Slavia’s players and staff are backing him to be a big hit in east London.
Soucek also pointed out West Ham have landed a top character as well as a fine young player.
“He’s a really good guy and I’m confident he will be a good player for us,” Soucek told the club’s website.
“I really trust him because I’ve watched him play many times, and I know he has a great reputation.
“My old teammates and coaches from Slavia all say really positive things about him, so hopefully he can continue to impress on Saturday (vs Man United).”
Diouf gives Potter the mouthwatering option of having two flying wingbacks with Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the other side.
The only issue this season is that both will be away for at least four weeks – and possibly six – when the African Nations takes place between January and February.
Potter has mitigated that, though, by bringing in the experienced and versatile Kyle Walker-Peters.
West Ham fans know a player when they see one and there is already a good feeling around Diouf.
This just cements that. And let’s face it, the last two players West Ham signed from Slavia didn’t do too badly at all.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
