Brentford already had several options on the left, but Keith Andrews believes Malick Diouf brings qualities that made the opportunity too good to ignore.
When Brentford moved for El Hadji Malick Diouf, it was not because Keith Andrews was scrambling for a left-back.
Keane Lewis-Potter started there in the opening-day win over Tottenham, Rico Henry returned to the side against Birmingham City in the Carabao Cup and Jayden Meghoma had also featured during pre-season.
Still, Brentford pressed ahead, handing the 21-year-old a five-year deal with an option for a sixth.
Keith Andrews has since explained the thinking, making it clear this was about more than just adding another name to the list.
Diouf’s age, Premier League experience and overall profile all ticked boxes for the Bees. The club also did their homework on his character before moving forward.
“He’s a really good player who has attributes that we really like,” said Andrews as part of his pre-match press conference.
“He settled into the Premier League, a new club, a new environment, a new culture, very well at West Ham last year and had some eye-catching performances.
“We obviously did more due diligence on him and his character, and how he would settle into the group.
“He fits what we’re about with his age profile and attributes, and he comes into an already competitive squad.”
Brentford Wanted More Than Extra Left-Back Cover
The competition Andrews talks about is already obvious.
Henry has been a long-standing option at left-back for the Bees, while Lewis-Potter has adapted well to the role after spending most of his career further up the pitch.
And behind them, Meghoma is developing too.
But there’s another factor. Injuries have been a recurring problem for Brentford on that side, and Andrews pointed to Henry’s availability as a key reason for strengthening.
“In years gone by, we’ve had some injury issues there,” he said.
“What we have got is really good players in that position who have different kinds of attributes. Malick comes into a competitive part of the pitch and just adds to a strong area.”
Instead of waiting for injuries to bite again, Brentford have acted from a position of strength.
It also gives Andrews more flexibility with Lewis-Potter.
Lewis-Potter, now 24, has shown he can do a job at left-back, but Andrews has always seen more in him. With another natural left-back in the squad, the Bees are no longer forced to keep Lewis-Potter there out of necessity.
“You’ve seen Keane Lewis-Potter play there at times over the last two seasons,” Andrews added. “Keane is versatile. It’s a super strength. He’s so invaluable to have within the squad.
“I mentioned it a couple of weeks ago, before we signed Malick, that I could envisage Keano playing in different positions this season and I don’t think that will change.”
So the picture at left-back changes. Diouf’s arrival doesn’t push Lewis-Potter out, but instead gives Andrews the chance to use one of his most versatile players in other roles.
Diouf Sold on Brentford Development Plan
There’s also a longer-term angle to Brentford’s approach.
Diouf comes in with Premier League experience, but at 21, there’s still plenty of room for growth. With Andrews being clear about wanting to bring in hungry players who still feel they have more to achieve.
The Senegal international says his conversations with Andrews played an important part in convincing him to make the move.
“I think they gave me a good plan,” Diouf said. “I spoke with the manager and he gave me a good plan for how I can develop, so I think it’s a good place for me to be.
“They’ve seen things in me that maybe I didn’t see myself. They’re looking forward to helping me and I’m really happy with the plan. I’m looking forward to continuing my progression.” Diouf said, speaking as part of his first interview with Brentford after joining the club,
That goes some way to explaining why the Bees were happy to strengthen a position that didn’t look like a weakness on paper.
This isn’t just about plugging a gap. Brentford believe they’ve found a young player who can help now and get even better in the years ahead.
Diouf, for his part, sees himself fitting into Brentford’s style. He watched the Bees closely last season and picked out the team’s athleticism as something that matches his own strengths.
There’s no promise of a starting spot straight away. Andrews has called left-back a competitive area, and both Henry and Lewis-Potter have already featured in the early weeks of the season.
But Brentford’s move for Diouf makes more sense when you look past the simple numbers at left-back.
Recent injuries have shown the value of having more than two options. Lewis-Potter’s versatility means he can be used elsewhere, and Brentford are convinced Diouf has the qualities to make an impact now and develop even further.
For a club that keeps talking about building real competition across the squad, that was reason enough to act, even in a position that already looked well covered.
