West Ham won’t feel downgrade as Harrison Burrows eyed as Malick Diouf replacement
West Ham United will be faced with many approaches for their top stars after relegation, including for El Hadji Malick Diouf.
The Irons are said to need at least £100million in player sales in order to cope with the financial blows that relegation to the Championship can bring.
Stars such as Mateus Fernandes and Jarrod Bowen are among the most sellable assets, but even if the Hammers hit that total, that would not be the end of the exodus.
There will certainly be players in Nuno Espirito Santo’s ranks that will not be looking to play second-tier football, and with interest from Premier League giants, Diouf is likely to be one of those.
However, no time is being wasted with Harrison Burrows linked with West Ham, and in truth, it may not be a downgrade.
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Why West Ham would be better without Malick Diouf as Harrison Burrows on shortlist
Going from a player who achieved five assists in the Premier League and has 18 caps for Senegal to a defender who has spent his whole career in the EFL looks like a downgrade on paper.
But is it really based on what the Irons have ahead of them?
| Harrison Burrows profile | Detail |
| Age | 24 |
| Position | Left-back |
| Nationality | English |
| Height | 5’10” |
| Foot | Left |
Yes, the quality in the Championship is undoubtedly lower than in the top flight, but having stars who understand and are familiar with the physicality may actually prove trumps.
And with Burrows, the Irons would not be losing any attacking threat either.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE 🚨
— Football League World (@FootballLeagueW) May 29, 2026
West Ham are plotting a move to sign Sheffield United star Harrison Burrows as they prepare for El Hadji Malick Diouf’s potential exit from the London Stadium, Football League World understands ⚔️
Read more 👇🔗#WHUFC #Irons #SUFC #Twitterblades pic.twitter.com/s6LqujRS6y
With Diouf’s five assists in the Premier League, West Ham’s links to Burrows make perfect sense. The Irons still want to provide that threat down the flanks.
In the Championship season just gone, the 24-year-old contributed to nine goal contributions, including scoring five and assisting four.
Additionally, he created eight big chances, three more than Diouf, while his 1.1 key passes per 90 is superior to the Senegalese’s 0.9.
So, with his championship experiences and his similar level of creativity, it may not actually be a downgrade.
Why West Ham will prolong Malick Diouf sale
With the World Cup set to begin and Diouf on the plane to North America for Senegal, the Irons will be hoping he can increase his price tag.
The World Cup is notorious for bringing stars to the fore, and plenty of top clubs make rash decisions based on performances at this festival of football.
There is already interest in Diouf from Manchester United, and more suitors entering the fray puts West Ham in a strong negotiating position.