Brentford are close to finalising the signing of El Hadji Malick Diouf from West Ham, with a fee worth up to £40m agreed between the clubs.
Standard Sport understands the Bees will pay around £36m up front, with add-ons potentially taking the total to £40m. A five-year contract has been agreed with the Senegalese left wing-back, whose sale will give West Ham much-needed funds as they approach deadline day in their bid for promotion from the Championship and a return to the Premier League.
Diouf keen on Brentford move
Diouf was always keen on the move to Brentford but did also field interest from Crystal Palace this summer. Brentford enquired about his price last month before talks went cold for around a month. After negotiations reopened in the last few days, an agreement on the fee has now been reached in club-to-club talks as the deal nears completion.
Brentford's busy summer
Brentford have bolstered their squad this summer, with Jannik Schuster, Jaidon Anthony and Callum Wilson all signing before the club smashed their transfer record to bring in Mamadou Sangare from Lens.
When asked after the 3-0 win over Tottenham at the weekend if a fifth new arrival was on the cards before the window closes, Keith Andrews said: "I'd have to say I'm very content with the squad. I think the squad depth right now is as good as it's been. You see the types of subs that we've brought on today, the energy and the quality that brings onto the pitch."
"The starting line-up will obviously change as the season goes on, so that depth is important. If the window closed tomorrow, I'll be pretty happy."
