Potter Begins Summer Rebuild

Recent written press reports had suggested that after the chaotic nature of last summer’s transfer window, West Ham United would have to sell players before they added to their squad and therefore have taken a much more measured approach this time around.

After reluctantly sanctioning a deal for winger Mohammed Kudus to join Tottenham Hotspur five days ago, the Hammers have finalised a deal for their second major signing of the current window, as versatile defender El Hadji Malick Diouf joins from SK Slavia Prague.

After the club completed the permanent transfer of Jean-Clair Todibo last month, Head-Coach Graham Potter has finally made his first major signing since succeeding Julen Lopetegui back on 9 January after a £19m fee was agreed on Sunday and a medical was then completed.

Potter has monitored Diouf’s progress for a while now and once funds were available, he worked with Kyle McCauley to complete the transfer.

The player follows in the footsteps of Tomáš Souček and Vladimír Coufal in making the move to Stratford from SK Slavia Prague and is seen by Potter as a direct replacement for Aaron Cresswell who, together with Coufal, left the club at the end of last season.

The 20-year-old is now expected to board a flight to Germany and join up with his new teammates on their training camp ahead of their first pre-season friendly against Grasshopper Club Zurich on Saturday afternoon.

With plenty of time still to go in this window, any more news of moves both in and out of East London will be reported here as soon as they are confirmed.