Lyon eye summer move for West Ham defender Issa Diop – report
Lyon is interested in signing West Ham centre-back Issa Diop this summer, according to reports by French publication L’Equipe.
The Ligue 1 side has struggled this season, currently sitting in tenth, and are looking for a powerful partner for Castello Lukeba next season.
The Hammers’ Europa League quarter-final opponents know Diop well following his spell with Toulouse and with his contract expiring in 2023, they could make a move for the Frenchman.
Natural progression
This would be a good move for both parties. Lyon is to see several senior players depart in the summer and they desperately need to replace them.
It is quite the opposite for West Ham who should be cutting the deadwood from the squad to make room in the squad for some arrivals.
Diop set the Premier League alight when he first came to England in 2018. He almost instantly became a fan favourite with brilliant performances in his first season, but the 25-year-old has failed to live up to the hype ever since.
There were talks amongst the fanbase of the Hammers having to be careful one of the Premier League’s elite teams don’t try and instantly prize the defender away from the London Stadium, but the hype quickly calmed.
He was a great signing back then and he has certainly helped the Irons get to where they are today, but the Hammers have to improve their squad.
David Moyes will be desperate to build on the impressive momentum built this season and there is no better way to do that than to add a few top-quality players.
They need a centre-back desperately with Kurt Zouma the only one currently in the squad who seems to have a long-term future there and moving Diop on for someone better would be a great piece of business.
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