West Ham United have expressed their desire to sign Mouctar Diakhaby with David Moyes keen on shoring up his defensive options.
According to an exclusive report from 90 Min, West Ham United are in the market for a new central defender. One of the players they are keeping a close eye on is Mouctar Diakhaby of Valencia as David Moyes continues to scour the market for an ideal defensive partner for Issa Diop next season.
Formerly of Olympique Lyon, Diakhaby has emerged as one of Valencia’s main defenders since joining the club back in 2018. In three years, the 24-year-old has notched up almost 100 competitive appearances for the club, becoming a mainstay at the heart of the backline alongside Hugo Guillamon and former Arsenal star Gabriel Paulista.
Diakhaby is advertised as a tall, imposing centre-back who can be an intimidating presence for the opposing attackers. Needless to say, he is quite effective in the air and physical duels, making him a tailor-made fit for Premier League. He should fit in effortlessly at West Ham, as the central defensive unit is viewed as a weakness.
Even though the Hammers finished sixth last season, three of their four first-team options are well past their 30s. In Diakhaby, Moyes could find himself a young operator who is equipped with the characteristics to become a success in England.
However, the Valencia star is not the club’s only defensive target. Earlier this week, the Londoners had been linked with a move for Manchester United outcast Phil Jones. The Englishman is a much-maligned figure at Old Trafford, but his experience in the Premier League does give him the upper hand.
Not to mention, Diakhaby has a contract at Valencia until 2023, giving the Spanish side the leverage to hold out for a hefty asking fee. It might make him an unappealing target for the Hammers, who have refrained from splashing the cash so far this summer, only signing Alphonse Areola on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
The London giants are bracing themselves for some market activity, though. They are reportedly set to launch a new €20 million bid for Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma while Sven Botman, too, has emerged as a target. Moyes, therefore, has no shortage of options, and it will be interesting to see who arrives in London as the desired partner for Diop next season.
