Slavia Prague manager Jindřich Trpišovský has confirmed that Senegalese left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf is on the verge of leaving the club, bringing his time in the Czech capital to a close.
Speaking after his side’s 1-0 friendly victory over Austrian outfit FC Blau-Weiss Linz, Trpišovský publicly addressed Diouf’s absence from the squad, ending speculation over the player’s status.
Diouf was also left out of Slavia’s recent matches against Ludogorets and Universitatea Cluj, fuelling rumours of an imminent departure.
The situation surrounding El Hadji Malick Diouf? It’s always the same. We’re all thinking about a transfer. It’s a matter of time. The club’s management is taking care of it, Trpišovský said during the post-match press conference. Malick has an individual program, we don’t want to take any risks. He’s a player with extraordinary qualities, he will have them for the future. Slavia’s demands must be met, but we believe he will leave. I think those who are here will stay at Slavia. Except for Malick.
While Trpišovský refrained from disclosing the player’s next destination, sources close to the matter indicate that Diouf is edging closer to a move to the Premier League.
West Ham United, long rumoured to be monitoring the 20-year-old defender, are believed to have reached an agreement in principle with Slavia Prague.
Final negotiations are said to be ongoing, with only minor details delaying a formal announcement.
Diouf, who joined Slavia Prague after spells at Tromsø and the Galaxy Foot Academy in Senegal, quickly established himself as a key player.
His performances in the Czech First League and consistent displays at the international level with Senegal have attracted widespread attention, particularly from English clubs seeking to strengthen their left side of defence.
In the past season, Diouf impressed with his attacking contributions from the back, registering nine goals and four assists across all competitions.
Despite an ankle injury late in the campaign, interest in the Medina-born defender has remained high.
Should the move to West Ham be finalised, Diouf will become one of the most high-profile exports from Slavia in recent seasons, underlining the club’s growing reputation for developing top-tier talent.
With his departure now imminent, Slavia Prague must prepare for life without one of their brightest young stars, while Diouf gets ready for the next step in what promises to be a promising career on a bigger stage.
