West Ham United are reportedly resigned to the idea of losing El Hadji Malick Diouf this summer.
Diouf may have frustrated West Ham United fans at times with his incessant crossing no matter the position, but he did enjoy a fairly productive first season in the Premier League.
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Indeed, the Senegal international provided five assists in 34 Premier League games in what was a poor team.
The jury is still out on him, of course, but it’s hardly surprising to hear that clubs like Manchester United reportedly want to sign Diouf given the impact he made in difficult circumstances.
A report in the Senegalese media has shared an update.
West Ham want up to £26million for Diouf
According to Le Soleil, West Ham are ready to demand up to £26million for Diouf and are resigned to the idea of losing him, to the point where it’s deemed as an almost certainty.
They suggest Chelsea might be keen and address those Manchester United links, which were first circulated by UK outlet talkSPORT.
West Ham paid around £19million for Diouf in the summer of 2025, so not demanding much more than that from any potential suitors would seem somewhat strange.
Admittedly, the club have lost the luxury of negotiating from a position of strength following their relegation.
Still, that does not mean players will be sold cheaply. Diouf remains a player in development but he’s certainly shown enough to suggest that he can carry a big price tag.
The 21-year-old, after all, is a leading Senegal international and clearly has a lot of upside. With more experience, there is surely at least a chance he could be a genuine Premier League defender.
To only demand around £26million would seem somewhat strange, even if the club are no longer in a position to demand absolute top dollar.
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