Paris Saint-Germain are ready to offer up to £50m for West Ham defender Issa Diop, as per Claret & Hugh.
The Lowdown: Tough time recently
The 25-year-old has suffered a tough time recently, as a number of poor performances have led to heavy criticism arising from Hammers fans and pundits alike.
In the Irons’ lucky 2-1 FA Cup win over Kidderminster Harriers, the Frenchman stood out as a weakness for David Moyes’ side. Having failed to make a single tackle or win any of his ground duels, the defender was hauled off at half-time for Craig Dawson in a bid to retain possession, with Diop losing the ball eight times.
This followed a poor performance in West Ham’s 3-2 loss to Leeds United, where the 6 foot 4 centre-back received a 6.3 SofaScore rating after he once again struggled on the ball, losing possession 10 times.
However, with Kurt Zouma absent due to sickness, Diop was called upon to play against Leicester City on Sunday. Responding to the criticism in fantastic fashion, the Frenchman had a brilliant game, with Moyes claiming that he ‘did play well’. Making six clearances, winning all his duels and completing 92% of his passes, the defender shone in the Hammers’ draw at the King Power Stadium, where he was rated the Irons’ second-best player behind goalscorer Jarrod Bowen.
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The Latest: Diop eyed by PSG
According to Claret & Hugh, PSG are reportedly ready to offer up to £50m to secure Diop’s services. The French giants have made their interest well-known in Europe and the story is now being circulated in England.
The Frenchman’s contract at the London Stadium expires in less than 18 months, with the club having the option to extend this by an extra year.
The Verdict: Take the money
Having arrived from Toulouse in the summer of 2018 for a £22.5m fee, Diop seemed to be an exciting acquisition. However, he has at times struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League and has largely been a backup player since the start of the 2020/21 campaign.
However, the defender’s talents have shone through on a few occasions. His performance for the Irons in a 2018 victory over Manchester United resulted in former Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho labelling him a ‘monster’. This even led to a transfer rumour linking him with Spurs when Mourinho was in charge at the north London club.
Nonetheless, with a current market valuation of £10.8m (via Transfermarkt), it would be ridiculous to reject an offer anywhere near the £50m mark. Therefore, if PSG are to offer that amount for Diop, West Ham should not hesitate to accept, duly reinvesting the windfall elsewhere to strengthen at the back.
In other news: Roshane Thomas had this to say about Diop’s performance v Leicester