View: West Ham defender Issa Diop unlikely to leave in January
West Ham defender Issa Diop is now unlikely to leave the club in the January window, unless there’s a major twist in the tale.
The Sun journalist Alan Nixon claimed that the Hammers will consider selling Diop in the final hours of the January transfer if they receive an offer of around £10 million.
Newcastle United were reportedly keen to sign the 25-year-old Frenchman as the Magpies are desperate to sign bolster their centre-back options.
The Magpies have been linked with a host of defenders this month, including Diego Carlos, but they have eventually agreed a deal to sign Dan Burn today [30 January].
According to reports from 90min, the Magpies have agreed a fee of £13m with Brighton for the defender and the 29-year-old will travel to Tyneside to undergo a medical.
Surely, it means Diop’s West Ham future is safe for now.
The Frenchman has been very inconsistent this season, and failed to make a strong impression even after getting regular games.
An opportunity opened up for him following long-term injuries Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma, but Diop has been pretty average.
Having said that, it would have been a massive gamble to sell him even though Zouma is now fit and is expected to return shortly.
The Hammers haven’t signed a centre-back in January, and to let go of a proven Premier League defender doesn’t make any sense.
Thankfully, Newcastle have found a solution to their problems, and they are unlikely to make a bid for Diop this month.
In other West Ham news, the club may well sell this defender if a reasonable offer is received.