West Ham are told they signed someone like David Beckham for just £19m, Arsenal beware

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It’s the start of a new era at West Ham United with Nuno Espirito Santo now in the hot seat.

Graham Potter was sacked last weekend after winning just six of his 23 Premier League matches and TBR Football was one of the first to report that Nuno would be his replacement.

His first game at the helm saw his side draw 1-1 against Everton in a much-improved performance.

Nuno certainly has a talented squad to work with, and one of his players has stood out for all of the right reasons so far this season, leading to a big comparison being made.

El Hadji Malick Diouf compared to David Beckham

El Hadji Malick Diouf has been one of the Premier League’s most eye-catching players this campaign, having made a near-perfect start to life at West Ham.

Diouf joined the club from Slavia Prague during the summer and immediately slotted into the side, excelling under Potter despite the wider struggles around him.

The left-back could well find himself on the radar of top-level clubs if he continues to perform, but one expert is confident he has what it takes, even comparing him to David Beckham.

Tore Rismo, the former Tromso CEO, where Diouf started his career, has kept a close eye on his rise, and he believes his crossing ability matches that of Beckham.

Rismo told The Athletic: “It’s so good and his technique reminds me a lot of David Beckham.

“Sometimes I think, ‘Am I watching Beckham or Malick?’ That’s one of the biggest compliments I can give to him. I don’t recall seeing him work on his crosses. He was born with this gift.

“Most players from Malick’s background are fast, good dribblers, but many don’t have that special gift to cross a ball like him. It must be great for his team-mates because they just have to find their position in the box and Malick will find them.

“His crossing ability makes defenders panic, it’s that good.”

Pundits rave about El Hadji Malick Diouf

Intriguingly, Rismo was not the first to draw similarities between Diouf and Beckham.

West Ham legend Tony Cottee pointed out during pre-season that the left-back, like Beckham, has a knack for taking just one touch before whipping a dangerous ball into the penalty area.

“I get so frustrated watching modern football,” Cottee said after the victory against Bournemouth.

“They get the ball out wide and they don’t cross it. But the ball was going out to Diouf and he just whipped in two fantastic crosses that West Ham scored from.

“You look at David Beckham as a great example. One touch, whip it in.”

Jamie Carragher also spoke highly of Diouf after West Ham’s draw at Everton, saying he was “fantastic”.

“It wasn’t a great first-half. [Nuno] sent them out early and it had the desired effect,” Carragher began. “I thought they were fantastic down the left-hand side.

“Summerville, really energetic, caused problems. Diouf from left-back was absolutely fantastic, for the equalising goal as well. The problems he caused O’Brien and Tarkowski down that side…”