West Ham ‘won’t entertain’ offers for Issa Diop in January – report
West Ham will not entertain any offers for defender Issa Diop in January from Newcastle, according to Nothing But Newcastle.
Diop has found himself as the fourth-choice centre-back at the London Stadium this season but has managed to make 13 appearances so far thanks to injuries to Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma.
However Newcastle and AC Milan [Foot Mercato] were linked with a January move for the young defender as they look to bolster their defensive lines.
According to sources close to Nothing But Newcastle though, the Hammers ‘won’t entertain any approach’ from the Premier League club for Diop in January.
With Ogbonna out for the season, David Moyes is short of options in defence and that is likely a big reason for the stance.
Confidence issues
Diop was previously described as a ‘monster‘ [Evening Standard] by Jose Mourinho for his performances earlier in his Hammers career, but recently he has stagnated and failed to impress the Irons crowd.
Since coming into the side West Ham’s form has been far from good, winning just two of the six games he has started in succession.
The past has shown however that there is a tidy defender somewhere there, and if anyone can get that level of performance out of him again it would be Moyes.
A move to Newcastle would only strengthen a side that, while they aren’t competing directly with the Hammers this season, are looking to take their place among the teams challenging for Europe after their takeover.
It would also weaken West Ham with their already relatively severe defensive issues.
Diop’s form is down to a lack of confidence having not played regularly for a while, but the 24-year-old is good enough to get back to his previous level and strike up a partnership to see him become first-choice once again in the future.
In other West Ham news, WHZ View: West Ham must ramp up pursuit of ‘complete’ midfielder before Arsenal act on advice.