Arsenal are interested in signing Issa Diop from West Ham United, per The Mirror.
What’s the word?
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is said to be keen to reshape his defence in the coming months, and has identified Diop as a top target.
Did he really play for us?! No West Ham fan has managed to name all of these obscure Irons signings….
The Hammers defender has made 23 appearances in the Premier League this season, scoring three goals, though he has been benched at times; he actually missed the 3-1 defeat to the Gunners in December.
Nevertheless, he is now rated at £31.5m per Transfermarkt, with Manchester United having been interested last summer; he cost the club £22m to bring in from Toulouse.
Sell, sell, sell
West Ham need to snap Arsenal’s arm off if they come in with a bid.
Diop, clearly, is an athletically gifted defender and he is a very good reader of the game; per WhoScored, he averages 5.3 clearances per game, along with 1.7 interceptions.
Nevertheless, he is perhaps the only really saleable asset within the Hammers’ squad and, if they are to stay in the Premier League, they will need to reinvest this summer. After all, Diop was linked with a £60m exit last summer.
Though the league is currently suspended, the Irons are level on points with 18th-placed AFC Bournemouth, and they have also shipped 50 goals this term, a number that is only beaten by Aston Villa, Norwich City, and Southampton.
Diop is not exactly helping the defence at this point, then, and while he could well improve Arsenal, he would also allow West Ham to potentially bring in reinforcements across the pitch.
It is a no-brainer for the Hammers; Diop needs to be sold if an offer of huge magnitude comes in.
Meanwhile, Ex-West Ham Employee has swooned over this potential wonderkid!