Manchester United are interested in West Ham United’s El Hadji Malick Diouf, talkSPORT understands.
The 21-year-old Hammers star has been a standout player for West Ham in a difficult season.
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Despite the Hammers battling relegation all year, Diouf has impressed at left-back.
The Senegal international has been marauding up and down the left for the Irons and earned plaudits following his move from Sparta Prague in 2025.
West Ham spent £22million plus add-ons for Diouf.
But he has made 28 Premier League appearances and has five assists, and it would have been more if it weren’t for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Diouf played five games as Senegal beat Morocco in one of the most controversial finals of recent times.
He played all 120 minutes of the final and lifted the trophy that has since been awarded to Morocco.
There is no indication of what sort of fee West Ham would be looking for but a lot would depend on the relegation battle.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are two points clear of Tottenham in 17th place with four games to go.
So, fees for any players leaving the London Stadium likely will depend on if the Irons go down or stay up.
Man United’s transfer strategy
In terms of left-back, manager Michael Carrick has entrusted Luke Shaw with his place.
Patrick Dorgu is also an option, but the Denmark international has been injured for a few months, and even when he was playing, he was deployed further forward.
Shaw isn’t getting any younger and Dorgu is more of a wing-back, which explains why Diouf would be a target.
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The Red Devils also aren’t shying away from their need to improve the centre of midfield.
Casemiro has been announced to be leaving while talkSPORT understands that the club are willing to listen to offers for Manuel Ugarte.
After joining for £50million in the summer of 2024 from Paris Saint-Germain to become the first INEOS signing, the club are willing to accept an offer at half of that price.
Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new deal that will see him earn around £150,000 per week and keep him at Old Trafford until 2031.
But away from that, Atalanta’s Ederson has emerged as a target.
talkSPORT understands the Italian side value the Brazilian at £42million.
He has agreed terms with Atletico Madrid, but the Champions League semi-finalists are yet to sort terms with Atalanta.
Sandro Tonali, Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton are also on the radar.
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One position that isn’t a concern for Man United is centre-back with Carrick adamant they won’t be looking for more central defenders.
He said: “It’s not an area of concern for me at this moment in time.
“At the moment and timing wise, talking about the summer and what goes beyond that, it’s difficult to elaborate on that really.
“Licha’s [Lisandro Martinez] missing games for different reasons at the minute, which we won’t go into, but I understand why you are asking it.
“But no, I haven’t got concerns. I think we’ve got a mixed blend there of experience, of real quality and some young – I’d say more than talented really – two promising young players that have already shown what they can do.
“I thought Ayden was fantastic last week in such a difficult game.
“I haven’t got concerns. What the future looks like, I can’t really get involved, because I’m not sure myself what that looks like.”
