‘Where will this West Ham United ace be playing his football next season?’ From Jarrod Bowen to Crysencio Summerville, Mateus Fernandes to El Hadji Malick Diouf, you could insert many a name into this question and receive an array of responses.
It was also a question Henri Camara, the legendary Senegal striker, found himself mulling over this week.
El Hadji Malick Diouf only joined West Ham United in a £19 million deal from Slavia Prague eleven months ago. But following their relegation out of the Premier League, Diouf is one of a number of players who could leave the Hammers in pursuit of top-flight football.
Take a look at West Ham’s ins and outs this summer – What deal stands out most to you?
📝 💰
Exactly how high the left-back can fly has been a source of much debate.
Camara is certainly convinced that Diouf will have offers to leave before he’s even kicked a ball in the Championship, though the size and quality of the suitors remains to be seen.
Henri Camara urges El Hadji Malick Diouf to leave West Ham United
Camara was speaking to Parimatch UK Sportsbook after Diouf showcased his ‘ridiculous’ crossing ability against France in Senegal’s World Cup opener in New Jersey.
“I think he’s done good things at West Ham,” says the former Wolves, Celtic and Wigan Athletic forward. “They won’t have the chance to play in the Premier League next season, but I think he’ll find a good club.
“Right now, he’s the best left-back in Africa. He will find a good club. I think he should leave. He shouldn’t stay. He deserves to play for a big club.”
West Ham fans will undoubtedly take issue with the suggestion that Diouf ”deserves‘ a move to what Camara calls a ‘big club’.
To quote one of Hammers News’ TalkingPoint users, Diouf ‘flattered to deceive’ in a West Ham shirt at times. Particularly after the Africa Cup of Nations.
There are gaping holes in his game defensively. And while he undoubtedly boasts a fearsome cross in his locker, only two of those five assists came in the final 27 league matches of 2025/26.
Crystal Palcae interested as Mancheter United look elsewhere
According to those in the know at Old Trafford, Manchester United are not planning to sign Diouf this summer. The same cannot be said of Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville.
FC Porto and Crystal Palace have been linked more recently. And, perhaps, more realistically too.
As for Camara’s assessment that Diouf is the stand-out left-back of African football, the likes of Rayan Ait-Nouri [Manchester City] Ramy Bensebaini [Dortmund] and Reinildo Mandava [Sunderland] may have something to say about that.
Cry joins a very exclusive club! But who is YOUR pick to be the World Cup’s top scorer?
👟 ⚽ 🇳🇱
After running tournament favourites France close on matchday one, Senegal face Norway and Iran with a spot in the knockout stages the target.
“I think first it was a dream to play the World Cup,” Diouf told the official West Ham website before his tournament began. “As Senegalese players, we don’t have the pressure. [Although maybe] we do a little bit because we have to do better than before.
“We have to go again because we have a really good team, a really good squad. So we don’t have to think about the other teams.
“We just have to go play our game, try to get the wins, and try to qualify for the second round. I think it’s our objective. It’s our goal.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
