West Ham could land £40m cash windfall as Brentford update emerges | OneFootball

West Ham United must prepare themselves to face a £40 million bid from Brentford for Senegalese defender El Hadji Malick Diouf

West Ham United must brace themselves for a bid worth a total of £40 million coming their way for Senegalese defender El Hadji Malick Diouf from Premier League outfit Brentford.

According to TEAMtalk, Brentford are preparing a fresh bid worth an initial £35 million, rising to £40 million with add-ons for Diouf.

The left wing-back only joined the Hammers last summer from Czech side Slavia Prague for around £19 million, though despite their relegation, impressed, enticing the Bees into launching a lucrative bid for the Senegalese international.

West Ham United must be prepared to face an attractive offer from Brentford for El Hadji Malick Diouf

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It was reported a couple of weeks ago that West Ham had knocked back an initial bid from Brentford for Diouf, with the Hammers insisting the 21-year-old was not for sale this window.

However, Brentford are looking to test Nuno Espirito Santo's side's resolve this summer with another bid for the defender, and one they may struggle to turn down.

West Ham have already made multiple lucrative sales this summer, namely Mateus Fernandes, who joined Tottenham Hotspur for £85 million, Crysencio Summerville, who made the move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal for £60 million, and Freddie Potts, who left for Belgian side Club Brugge for £10 million.

Whether West Ham can be tempted into another, given their financial balance is in a much healthier position than it was a couple of months ago remains to be seen, but Brentford are pushing them all the way in a bid to bring the Senegalese wing-back to the other side of London.

Why West Ham United do not want to sell El Hadji Malick Diouf

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Despite his age, Diouf announced himself as one of the best left-sided defenders in the Premier League last season after making the steep jump from the Czech top flight.

The Hammers do have Ollie Scarles, who can also play his role, but it goes without saying that, when fit, Diouf has that left-back/left-wing-back position locked down.

Diouf was absent for the majority of January whilst away on international duty with Senegal at the African Cup of Nations, and his lack of presence was sorely felt in Nuno's system, which heavily relied upon the wing-backs.

The 21-year-old is a nightmare to come up against in both defence and attack, and he could run Championship opposition ragged with his incredible physical nature and technical ability.

West Ham, by all accounts, will be doing everything they can to keep him, but Brentford will too be doing everything they can to lure him away, as this is a saga to keep a close eye on going forward.

Nuno Espirito Santo will not want to lose any more of West Ham's stars amid Brentford's El Hadji Malick Diouf interest

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With each of Fernandes, Summerville, and Potts having left the club so far this window, West Ham have seen over £150 million arrive in terms of player sales this summer.

The loss of Premier League revenue will have taken a blow to their financial situation, but these sales will have helped to set things right, and whether they can be tempted into any more big departures remains to be seen.

Keeping Jarrod Bowen around amid interest from other Premier League clubs was always going to be the best piece of business they could do this window, and keeping the likes of Diouf around wouldn't have been far behind.

Brentford are set to launch an offer they hope will be too good to refuse for West Ham, as Diouf's Hammers career is cast in doubt.