West Ham United close to deal with Fulham to sell Issa Diop
West Ham are now very close to selling Issa Diop to Fulham with only “a few details” left to sort between the sides, according to Julien Laurens.
It was reported by the Daily Mail on Thursday (7 July) that the Cottagers had put forward a bid totalling £20million after having an earlier offer turned down.
And it appears that has been successful as the Hammers look to get back the fee they paid for the 25-year-old when they made him their record signing four years ago.
French journalist Laurens, who works for ESPN and elsewhere, wrote on his personal Twitter account on Friday evening (8 July): “Only a few details to sort out now between West Ham and Fulham for the transfer of Issa Diop.
“He will be a really good signing for Marco Silva.”
Recoup
Getting their money back for Diop should be a decent move for the Hammers this summer, as he was pushed down to fifth in the pecking order following the arrival of Nayef Aguerd.
Although he looks to be going to a league and city rival, that is increasingly the reality for Premier League teams if they want a good deal, with the money far more plentiful at home meaning they have to do deals with the teams around them.
Receiving a good chunk of what they paid for their new Moroccan centre-back for a player who David Moyes is clearly not sold on means they have strengthened the position without a big gap in the books.
The hope will be that Angelo Ogbonna recovers fully from his ACL injury, and the fitness complaints and off-field issues that dogged Kurt Zouma’s season don’t reoccur.
If that is the case then the squad will be looking pretty strong in that department with four dependable options in the centre, as 2021/22 fan-favourite Craig Dawson is also in place.
While Moyes continues his work to strengthen after the quick-fire capture of Flynn Downes in the midfield, a piece of outgoing business that looks to ultimately be in all party’s best interests appears to be nearly done.