Manchester United could reportedly have to cough up up to £75 million to land West Ham United defender Issa Diop this summer.
According to a report by Daily Mirror, West Ham United are ready to give it their all in order to keep hold of Issa Diop beyond the summer transfer window. Manchester United are interested in the French defender, but are likely to be told to pay £75 million for his services by the Premier League club.
Issa Diop is a name that has been rated quite highly for years now. The young French defender was already heralded as someone to look out for during his days at the Toulouse academy. But, in the end, the player ended up sealing a move to a midtable Premier League outfit when he left the Ligue 1 club.
At West Ham United, he initially made slow progress before finally settling into a comfort zone that made him a force to be reckoned with at the London Stadium. By the end of his first season with the Hammers, the 22-year-old had featured in all but five games. And a solid maiden campaign in the Premier League has attracted Manchester United.
The Red Devils are in the middle of a revamp that is taking its own sweet time. But, following their worst Premier League season, in which they conceded a club-record 54 goals, it is imperative that Manchester United strike gold in every decision they take in the transfer window this summer.
To that end, a move for Diop makes sense for Manchester United, who would sign a no-nonsense player with Premier League experience. Widespread reports had even suggested that United were ready to offer a player as part of the deal to sign the French centre-back.
But, West Ham reportedly swiftly rejected the offer for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the Hammers do not want to part ways with Diop after just one season. And, even if they were willing to do business, they only want cash in exchange of the 22-year-old, as per the report.
The valuation, too, has been revealed now by Daily Mirror, who claim that the East Londoners would want a fee close to the world record £75 million sum that Liverpool paid to sign Virgil van Dijk last year. Manchester United’s stance towards the valuation though, is unclear.
West Ham can afford to slap the astronomical amount for the sole reason that Diop will not agitate for a move away from the club. Manchester United will thus, have to shell out the big bucks if they are to sign their man.
It now remains to be seen if the £75 million valuation indeed is met. With not long to go before the pre-season to begin, however, time is running out for Manchester United to zero in on their main target and integrate him into the squad ideally.
