Brentford have agreed a verbal deal with West Ham United to sign Senegal left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf for up to £40m. The move would strengthen Brentford’s defence after their ninth-place Premier League finish, while giving relegated West Ham a sizeable profit on a player signed only last year.

West Ham have accepted an initial £35m bid plus up to £5m in add-ons, and Diouf has been cleared for a medical. The 21-year-old made 34 appearances and supplied five assists last season after joining from Slavia Prague for £19m; he also played four matches for Senegal at the World Cup. If completed, he would become Brentford’s fifth summer signing.