Man Utd targeting shock West Ham star if London club are relegated

Despite picking up some recent results, West Ham's future in the Premier League still hangs in the balance, and England's biggest clubs are getting prepared to strike should they face a stint in the Championship.

Five points above the relegation zone with four matches left might just be enough for West Ham to secure top-flight football again next season.

But with Spurs picking up their first win of the calendar year last weekend, they are far from home and dry.

Much like how Barcelona is preparing a raid of Tottenham's dressing room if they go down, new reports suggest that Manchester United is hoping to snipe a cheap purchase for one of West Ham's standout players.

After joining the Hammers at the start of the season, United are said to be eyeing El Hadji Malick Diouf.

Diouf's the man for the Red Devils

With Champions League football almost secured, Carrick has been given the chequebook for the 26/27 season and has already identified his first signing.

Placing weight on defensive solidity, though, Talksport reports that the 21-year-old Senegalese left-back is high on the shortlist for Man Utd, especially if the Hammers go down.

Diouf has excelled in a tough season for West Ham, playing 28 times and representing Senegal in the chaotic African Cup of Nations, since his £22 million arrival.

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Diouf would contest for the left-back slot with Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu, although the latter showed more promise higher up the pitch before his untimely injury.

A fee for the West Ham player has not been speculated on yet, but relegation would only cheapen his stock.

End of the line for Dalot

In the post-Amorim era, Manchester United's squad isn't too far away from being a consistent European threat, and this summer's action could prove to be pivotal for their future.

Already, Carrick is reported to be organising a ruthless culling from the dressing room, with up to 13 players leaving the club to finally free up the wage bill that has been their downfall for every rebuilding project since Fergie.

One of these could now be Diogo Dalot, who has been out of favour in the last two years, having been constantly switched from his natural right-back position to left-back and wing-back roles.

Since winning the club's Players' Player of the Year award just two seasons ago, the changes in system have seen Dalot fall down the pecking order to the hands of Noussair Mazraoui, Luke Shaw, and Amad Diallo, in the trifecta of positions.

The arrival of Diouf would further discard Dalot from that left-back role, which will likely be shared with Shaw, as the out-of-favour Portuguese has been linked with a potential return to the Serie A.