West Ham target Slavia Prague defender El Hadji Malick Diouf

The 20-year-old, who is equally capable as a traditional left-back or wing-back, has attracted strong interest from Hammers manager Graham Potter.

However, Slavia Prague are reluctant to part with one of their key players and are holding out for a fee in the region of 20 million pounds.

West Ham's pursuit of Diouf comes at a time of transition in the left-back department.

Emerson Palmieri is expected to depart the London Stadium this summer, while 19-year-old Ollie Scarles impressed during a breakthrough campaign but is not yet considered ready to assume a first-choice role.

Despite their interest, West Ham remain cautious in the transfer market due to concerns over breaching the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

The club is under pressure to offload players before making significant acquisitions.

Alongside Diouf, West Ham are also monitoring Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton.

The 21-year-old is fresh off an impressive run with England's Under-21 side, helping them to European Championship glory, and would bolster Potter's midfield options with a dynamic and composed presence.