West Ham United Set To Reignite Interest In This Malian Midfielder: Why They Should Snap Him Up | OneFootball

According to African outlet Africafoot, West Ham United are expected to reignite interest in Mamady Diambou after missing out on the Red Bull Salzburg midfielder last summer. Graham Potter is rooting for reinforcements following a disastrous Premier League campaign, and the Irons are ready to back him for next season, with the Malian being one of the potential transfer targets.

The 22-year-old Les Aigles international was scouted by the Austrian heavyweights while at Guidars FC back in his homeland. They immediately sent him out on loan to their sister club FC Liefering, and the minutes in the second-tier helped him attune to European football. Having featured sporadically for Salzburg, the youngster plied his trade in Switzerland with FC Luzern in January 2023 for the remainder of the 2022-23 season.

Despite being sidelined for months due to a broken arm, he eventually emerged as a first-team regular for Die Roten Bullen at the backend of the 2023-24 campaign. His impressive stint deep down the midfield got rewarded with a new contract that ties him down in Wals-Siezenheim until the summer of 2028. With 32 appearances so far this term across competitions, Diambou has been one of the key contributors in Salzburg’s battle for revival in the Bundesliga.

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA – OCTOBER 23: Mamady Diambou of FC Salzburg runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Petar Sucic of GNK Dinamo during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between FC Salzburg and GNK Dinamo at Stadion Salzburg on October 23, 2024 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Jasmin Walter/Getty Images)

Thanks to the dreadful display from all three newly-promoted Premier League outfits in Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton, 17th-placed West Ham United have escaped relegation comfortably. However, they have been dismal across the pitch, and Potter, in charge of the Hammers since January as Julen Lopetegui’s successor, has made little impact in terms of changing their fortunes.

Why West Ham United Must Reconstruct Their Midfield

Having said that, the Englishman deserves more time, and preferably players who fit in his style of play. Tomas Soucek, known for his aerial and physical supremacy in and around the opponents’ box, lacks the pace and precision in the centre of the pitch, whereas Lucas Paqueta, regardless of his dribbling, swift footwork and ball-carrying traits, is facing an anxious wait over his future amid the betting scandal.

Guido Rodriguez was snapped up on a Bosman last summer, but his mediocrity makes him an outcast in Potter’s plans. While Edson Alvarez fits in as a destroyer, his poor disciplinary record remains a concern. James Ward-Prowse is past his prime and could only be viewed as a sporadic option. Also, Carlos Soler, on loan from Paris St-Germain, has failed to settle in English football. The gaffer would welcome an overhaul in the middle of the park, and Diambou, who holds all the traits to be a creative ‘number six’, might be roped in for a minuscule €6m transfer fee.