Sky Sports reports that West Ham United are inches away from confirming a £22m transfer for Toulouse FC defender, Issa Diop. Both sides agreed on the price on Wednesday with the player yet to be seen in East London for his medical.
This is an astute move by Manuel Pellegrini and the rest of the Hammers ownership. The highly rated 21-year-old centre-back is coming at a bargain deal, given the number of sides who are interested in him.
Diop is a product of the Violets youth academy and is now a cemented starter under Alain Casanova. The Frenchman has racked up 95 total appearances and 9 goals for the senior side and is considered one of the brightest prospects to come out of the Ligue 1.
When asked about Diop, the coach of the Toulouse academy, Fabrice Garrigues said, “He is a very positive person who always takes things with a smile, he is a great man and he is a real leader of men. I remember a very important Under-17s match against Nantes.”
Diop has been an inspiring presence in the Toulouse backline ever since his debut in 2015 alongside the current Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, Alphonse Areola. The defensive pair saved the club from relegation in the 2014/15 season and very quickly made themselves known in the European top-flight.
Diop still has 2 years left in his contract with the French side but might just get swayed by the wage hike he is expected to receive on his entry to the Premier League. David Sullivan and the rest of the United ownership let out a convincing statement of intent last month when they signed Manuel Pellegrini to a £10m-a-year contract.
After facing the wrath of their own supporters in a home loss to Burnley last season, the Hammers have set themselves on the rightful path of redemption. While David Moyes managed to keep the side out of relegation by the end of the 2017/18 campaign, the West Ham faithful expects more from their side rather than a bigger stadium.
Diop could be a brilliant acquisition to answer their defensive woes and Pellegrini is the right man to harness the talents of the young centre-back. The 21-year-old’s leadership ability is one of his best qualities and speaks volumes of future potential in the English top-flight.
Standing at 6 feet 4 inches, Diop towers over most opposition forwards and is a consistent performer on the pitch.
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Now that James Collins has left the Hammers, the Frenchman can be handed over an important role in the side with the likes of Angelo Ogbonna, Declan Rice, Recce Burke and Winston Reid fielded next to him.
