Brentford Rule Out January Exit for El Hadji Malick Diouf Amid Liverpool and Chelsea Interest
Brentford are reportedly unwilling to sell El Hadji Malick Diouf during the January transfer window, despite interest from Liverpool and Chelsea in the Senegal international.
The 21-year-old left-back has struggled to secure regular playing time since arriving from West Ham United ahead of the season. However, the Bees are understood to have no intention of allowing him to leave midway through the campaign.
According to TEAMtalk, Brentford have already ruled out the possibility of a January departure, with the club keen to retain Diouf as part of their squad for the remainder of the season.
Liverpool and Chelsea have made contact
Diouf’s limited involvement at Brentford has reportedly attracted attention from several Premier League rivals.
The defender has made just four appearances so far, starting only once. His situation has alerted Liverpool and Chelsea, who are both understood to have contacted his representatives to explore the possibility of a transfer.
Reports suggest that a fee in the region of £43 million to £51 million could be required to secure his services. Brentford are under no pressure to lower their valuation, particularly given the length of the player’s contract.
Liverpool have previously monitored Diouf, having contacted his representatives in January 2025 before eventually signing Milos Kerkez.
Brentford determined to keep Diouf
Despite the reported interest, Brentford are not prepared to entertain offers for the Senegalese defender in January.
Keane Lewis-Potter remains the club’s first-choice option at left-back, but the management reportedly views Diouf as an important alternative and wants to keep him available for the second half of the season.
The former West Ham player is under contract at the Gtech Community Stadium until June 2031, with Brentford also holding an option to extend the agreement by another year.
That long-term commitment gives the London club a strong negotiating position. Although Diouf’s lack of regular football could continue to attract attention, any potential move to Liverpool or Chelsea appears unlikely during the upcoming winter window.
