West Ham Accept £40m Brentford Bid for El Hadji Malick Diouf

West Ham have accepted a Brentford bid worth up to £40m for Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf, according to BBC Sport. The agreement is understood to include an initial £35m payment and a further £5m in add-ons, with the 21-year-old now cleared to undergo a medical with Brentford.

Watch the highlights:

Diouf joined West Ham from Slavia Prague for £19m a year ago. A transfer on the reported terms would therefore deliver a significant return for the Hammers, although the move is not yet complete and remains subject to the medical and the remaining formalities.

The left-back featured in West Ham’s Championship opener against Burnley this season, but he was then left out of the matchday squad for the club’s next two games. BBC Sport reported that Diouf had been Brentford’s leading defensive target during the transfer window. Talks had stalled earlier in the summer before being revived this week.

Diouf made 34 appearances for West Ham last season and recorded five assists. That campaign ended with the east London club relegated from the Premier League after finishing 18th. The defender would make an immediate return to the top flight if his proposed move to Brentford is completed.

The Senegal international established himself in his national squad last year and made four appearances at this summer’s World Cup. His arrival would add another young international option to a Brentford squad that finished ninth in the Premier League last season under Keith Andrews, narrowly missing European qualification on goal difference.

Diouf could become Brentford’s fifth signing of the summer. The Bees have already added striker Callum Wilson, midfielder Mamadou Sangare, centre-back Jannik Schuster and winger Jaidon Anthony. The accepted offer represents the decisive breakthrough in Brentford’s pursuit, but the transfer will only be finalized after the medical and completion of the required agreements.