El Hadji Malick Diouf set for Brentford switch in deal worth up to €47m

Brentford are close to reaching an agreement with West Ham for Senegal international El Hadji Malick Diouf in a transfer that could be worth up to €47m, according to reports.

The London club have stepped up their pursuit of the 21-year-old left-back after submitting a formal offer of about €41m, with a further €5.9m available in potential bonuses.

Negotiations between Brentford and West Ham have progressed significantly, with an agreement now considered imminent.

Diouf could therefore remain in the Premier League despite West Ham’s relegation to the Championship at the end of last season.

The Senegalese defender has already begun the new campaign with West Ham, featuring in their opening matches.

He came on as a substitute during the League Cup victory over Portsmouth, which West Ham won 3-1.

Diouf then made another late appearance in the Championship opener against Burnley, a match which ended 2-2.

Despite being involved at the beginning of the campaign, his future now appears increasingly likely to lie away from West Ham.

Brentford had already identified Diouf as a transfer target and have now made their interest concrete with the formal proposal.

The player is reportedly open to the possibility of joining Brentford, while discussions between the two clubs continue over the final details of the agreement.

If the transfer is completed on the reported terms, West Ham could receive as much as €47m for the defender.

That figure would consist of approximately €41m in guaranteed payments, with the remaining €5.9m dependent on bonuses.

It would represent a significant increase on the amount West Ham paid to sign Diouf from Slavia Prague just one year ago.

The Senegal international arrived from the Czech club for around €22m and could now leave for more than twice that amount.

For Brentford, the potential deal would see them secure a player who has already gained experience in English football and established himself at international level with Senegal.

For West Ham, however, the proposed transfer would mean losing a player they signed only last summer.

The two clubs are understood to be close to resolving the remaining points in the negotiations.

At this stage, the agreement is regarded as imminent, with the official announcement expected once the outstanding details have been completed.

Diouf’s immediate future therefore appears increasingly clear, with Brentford closing in on a deal that could keep the Senegalese defender in the Premier League despite West Ham’s drop into the second tier.

The final agreement is expected to be confirmed once the remaining formalities are concluded.