04 Jun 2026 12:27:39
Was thinking maybe if we get Diomande who's very young and only had 1 very good season on a top league, maybe loan Bowen for a season while West Ham get back up. It's a win win win win. We get a decent RW for wages only.
West Ham don't have to pay his wages and can have him back if they get promoted, Diomande is forced to start every game in a new league and Bowen keeps playing on the prem and keeps his England hopes.
04 Jun 2026 12:53:40
If hope were not paying over £100m for someone who's not ready to start every game, but I wouldn't mind Bowen if we need an alternative.
04 Jun 2026 13:16:42
100m for a player with 1 season under their belt in a vastly inferior league is a punt, although this is the going rate for potentially the next Mo/Mane these days (sadly).
04 Jun 2026 13:23:39
Would West Ham agree to that? I don't see it happening.
I'd be all over Bowen on a permanent move. Anyway, we could use his experience, clearly has ability and is English.
It's going to be a big summer ahead, and for the prices thrown about, I think he's a no brainer.
04 Jun 2026 13:29:08
I don't know why no one is going out and buying said El Mala. He is a better player than Diamonde. He is a truly two footed player. He can cover both wings easy.
Diamonde is hyped up. He won't be able to run through defenders in the EPL like he does in the Bundesliga. El Mala is sort of like Coutinho with an extra yard of pace.
04 Jun 2026 13:39:39
Bowen would be absolutely necessity for West Ham if they plan to get back up next year. They can't let him go.
04 Jun 2026 14:31:11
Did you catch El Malta's highlights on YouTube, Harry?
Couldn't stay away, eh?
04 Jun 2026 14:48:18
Now, don't be that Zed, it's not like you've been sleeping with Diamondes to know any better.
04 Jun 2026 15:40:17
Diomande is also two-footed. Was there a point in you saying El Mala is 'truly' two-footed, Cafu? In what way is Diomande not truly two-footed? El Mala is undoubtedly a good player, though, great numbers at the same age as Diomande, but Diomande, as far as I can tell from the limited times I have seen them play, has ridiculous work rate alongside the talent, and that really makes him stand out.
04 Jun 2026 16:26:28
El Mala is more technical, a bit of Coutinho, Bernardo Silva type winger.
Diamonde is very direct. I'm not saying Diamonde is bad at all, but his price is eye watering. Said El Mala could be half that price, and, as much as I have seen, will be better suited for the Premier League.
Either signing is great, but for the dollar my pick is El Mala. (we also have a few Germans in the team for him to gel and settle with).
04 Jun 2026 16:47:42
Cafu, in what world is El Mala anything like Bernardo Silva? Even Coutinho and Bernardo aren't particularly similar players aside from both having a low centre of gravity and speaking Portuguese.
El Mala is an extremely powerful runner who loves making driving runs in behind, as well as being 6ft2 and a solid aerial threat.
He is more like a young Cristiano Ronaldo if anything. A very good young player and not actually a bad suggestion at all, but I simply do not get that comparison to Bernardo and Coutinho at all mate.
04 Jun 2026 17:19:18
Bowen is 30 December 2026. His best football and pace has already been played, and pace well gone. Harvey would be just as good, football ability wise. Elliot's problem is like Bowen now, he does not have pace to burn, he's a plodder not a sprinter.
Bowen with a 4 year contract would be 34 years old like Mo in his last season. Mo is 34 this 15 June 2026. Incidentally, Jurgen was born on the 16 June (1967). VVD is 35 on 08 July 2026.
04 Jun 2026 18:20:17
I meant he is more technical than direct. Of course, he can run at pace and has strength. But also he has the intelligence of a footballer like Coutinho and Silva.
Diamonde is a brute but lacks intelligence, obviously that will come with experience. He mostly wants to do it all by himself.
04 Jun 2026 23:42:02
From the reports today, there seems a push from El Mala's family to bring both brothers as part of a transfer, with the other one unlikely to get a WP, so maybe that's best swerved.