By Daniel Feliciano

30th May, 2022 | 5:10pm

West Ham United willing to sell Issa Diop to Lazio this summer

West Ham will be willing to sell Issa Diop to Serie A giants Lazio this summer in order to boost their summer transfer budget, according to the Evening Standard.

Diop made 13 Premier League appearances for the Hammers this season, but is regarded as the fourth-choice centre back at the club behind Kurt Zouma, Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna when fit.

But David Moyes is keen to add further reinforcements to his defence this summer, which means the club would be willing to let the French defender leave in order to free up space for him.

Diop has got just one year remaining on his Irons contract and this would represent the final chance for the club to make some cash from him, unless they opted to renew his contract.

The report also claims that the club have suffered a blow in their bid to sign Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall after they secured promotion to the Premier League, with the boyhood Forest fan unlikely to want to leave the club now.

Time to go

There’s nothing wrong with not being sentimental in football and that’s simply what this is. A correct business decision from the club.

Diop joined as a top young prospect from Toulouse but hasn’t quite developed in the way many expected him to, after he suffered a serious injury and fell out of favour at the club.

Now with so many players ahead of him in the pecking order, his contract running down and the club looking to strengthen even further in that area of the pitch it makes sense to move him on.

There is interest which makes it easier, and the club will look to ensure they can secure a good fee for Diop before letting him leave and likely they will want to seal a replacement first too.

Now seems like the perfect time for everyone to part ways, and the fans can wish him well wherever he ends up.

In other West Ham news, the club have held talks with representatives of one Premier League ace according to a report