El Hadji Malick Diouf is quickly developing into one of the most sought-after left-backs in the Premier League at the moment.

David Sullivan is under pressure to step down, and whilst the recruitment under his reign has been shocking at times, he has gotten it spot on with the 20-year-old.

Having been on West Ham‘s radar for a long time, Diouf impressed Graham Potter whilst playing in Senegal’s 3-1 friendly win over England in June.

Diouf is now already linked with other clubs, and Nuno Espirito Santo must do everything he can to ensure that he keeps his star beyond this season.

El Hadji Malick Diouf a star in the making

Diouf joined West Ham for £19m from Slavia Prague and has been one of West Ham’s bright sparks at the start of the season.

Diouf is a marauding full-back with heaps of energy, and his speed highlights just how athletic he is.

As the starting left-back, he has adapted to the responsibility placed upon him and can only improve as he gains more Premier League experience.

• Provides assist for Lucas Paqueta’s goal in the 5-1 loss to Chelsea
• Provides assist for Callum Wilson’s header in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest
• Provides assist for Jarrod Bowen’s goal in the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace

Only Burnley’s Quilindschy Hartman has more assists than Diouf’s total of three in the league so far from the same position, and it’s refreshing to see a young player adapt to the top flight with ease.

The 20-year-old has an incredibly bright future on his hands, and whilst he still has to refine certain aspects of his defensive game, he could succeed at West Ham and then leave for a considerable profit.

Supporters will be hoping that if Diouf does leave the Hammers in the near future, Sullivan will drive a hard bargain with the interested parties.

West Ham’s 3-2 win over Burnley has moved them level on points with their 17th-placed opponents, and there is now real optimism that they can stay in the Premier League.

West Ham’s current form is promising for El Hadji Malick Diouf’s future in E20

The Hammers have been on the decline for many years, but the signings of Diouf and Mateus Fernandes do offer supporters a glimmer of hope for the future.

Diouf’s main competitor at left-back is Ollie Scarles, and whilst the young defender is extremely talented, he is out with a shoulder injury for the rest of the calendar year.

This assures the Senegal international that he will be starting in all of West Ham’s games for the foreseeable future.

If West Ham were to be relegated, they would likely be forced into selling him for a much lower fee.

However, there is real hope that he could stay at the London Stadium for years to come based on the team’s revival under Nuno.

Sign up for the West Ham Zone WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking West Ham United news sent straight to your phone.