Brentford appear to be on the brink of another major statement signing, with El Hadji Malick Diouf set to move across London from West Ham in a deal worth up to £40 million.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Bees have reached a verbal agreement for the Senegal international, with the package understood to be £35m fixed plus add-ons that could take the total to £40m. The important caveat is that the documents are yet to be signed, meaning there is still work to be done before anyone can officially celebrate.
Diouf is just 21 and would arrive with genuine Premier League experience, (albeit at West Ham) having made 32 league appearances last season and registering five assists with The Hammers. His attacking instincts and ability to get forward from left-back or left wing-back are arguably the biggest attraction.
One Beesotted contributor summed up the thinking as to why Brentford are interested rather neatly:
> “Basically why they want him is he’s a high volume crosser with speed to get up the flanks quicker during counter attacks. Having him means Thiago and the aerial threat of Brentford will have better quality service and their output will heavily increase.”
That is the really intriguing part.
We have already seen what Brentford can look like when Kayode attacks space and provides that marauding threat down the right. If Diouf can offer a comparable outlet on the opposite flank, suddenly opponents have a completely different problem to solve.
Add the movement of Dango Ouattara, Jaidon Anthony and Kevin Schade, plus the physical presence and aerial threat of Thiago or Wilson through the centre, with the quality of delivery Diouf is capable of providing, and the attacking possibilities become mouth-watering.
Another Bees fan made an important point about judging Diouf purely on his West Ham performances:
> “You can’t take the average Hammers’ fan opinion to mean too much. The fact is their entire team was poo last season. Something most of them seem to forget. More considered Irons I’ve spoken to are disappointed he’s leaving and are convinced he’s due to go a long way.”
That feels worth remembering. West Ham were relegated, and Diouf was part of a struggling side. It would be easy to look at inconsistent performances and conclude that Brentford are paying £35m for a player who isn’t ready. But there is another interpretation: Brentford are buying a young player whose environment may have been holding back some of his best qualities.
There are certainly flaws. One West Ham fan admitted:
> “He has flashes of quality, just seems to have a poor attitude and phases in and out of games. If he can keep his head screwed on and actually look up before crossing the ball he’s alright.”
Another Bees fan was way more positive:
> “He’s young and has a lot of potential. Think our fans fail to realise how young and inexperienced he is.”
That development angle could be crucial. Brentford have already shown they are willing to trust young players and develop them rather than simply buy finished products.
There is also a very practical reason for the move. With the much-loved Rico Henry approaching the latter stages of his Brentford career, and Keane Lewis-Potter still considered more of a makeshift option, adding a natural left-sided player makes obvious squad-building sense.
And then there is the underlying data. Diouf’s expected-assists numbers placed him above 77% of Premier League players last season despite playing for a relegated side. If that creativity can be transferred into a Brentford side with better movement ahead of him, there is serious potential here.
Whether it gets over the line, time will tell. But if it does, Brentford could have something seriously frightening brewing.
The thought of Brentford hitting teams on the counter from both flanks is enough to get the imagination running wild. The attacking threat could be mind-blowing.
Dave Lane
