AC Milan want to sign West Ham centre-back Issa Diop in January
AC Milan have contacted West Ham over a possible January transfer for centre-back Issa Diop, according to French outlet Foot Mercato.
The Italian giants want to strengthen at the back with Simon Kjaer likely to be unavailable for the remainder of the 2021-22 campaign following surgery, and they want the Frenchman.
West Ham currently have defensive injury issues of their own too, with both Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma out of action, and whether they would be keen to cash in on Diop, 24, during the winter window remains to be seen.
Dead on arrival?
The Hammers centre-back has featured in five Premier League games so far this term, but that would not have been possible if both Zouma and Ogbonna were available.
Diop is fourth-choice at the moment as he is also behind Craig Dawson in the pecking order, and he would have been very much open to leaving the London Stadium next month had he been on the bench all season.
It remains to be seen if David Moyes has plans to bring in a new centre-back in January, but West Ham could really do with one right now given that the Diop-Dawson partnership has not particularly impressed.
Nevertheless, the Irons would not be keen on selling the former Toulouse man midway through the campaign as they need quality depth in the department given they are playing in three competitions in the second half of the campaign.
Milan could be tempting to Diop, though, and nothing should be ruled out.
They are currently challenging for the Serie A title, with only four points between them and league leaders Inter Milan after 19 games, and playing for one of Europe’s traditional powerhouses would attract anyone.
In other West Ham news, an amazing attacker is making personal arrangements for Hammers switch in January.
Be sure to follow West Ham Zone on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on the Hammers and more exclusive interviews with Frank McAvennie.