Newcastle United have reportedly been dealt with a blow in their pursuit of Issa Diop, with West Ham United rejecting their €8 million bid.
Newcastle United’s pursuit of a centre-back on deadline day was dealt with another setback, as West Ham United have rejected their €8 million offer for Issa Diop, reports RMC Sport. The French outlet claims West Ham have no intention to offload Diop in the January transfer window amid fears over lack of depth in the defensive unit.
Newcastle have not been the only club linked with a move for Diop this month. The Frenchman has attracted interest from clubs such as AC Milan, but West Ham have remained persistent so far in keeping hold of their defensive asset.
Formerly of Toulouse FC, Diop has been a part of the London team since the summer of 2018. The defender has featured in over 110 competitive matches for the Hammers, though his role in the side has dwindled a bit under the leadership of David Moyes.
The former Manchester United boss has largely preferred Angelo Ogbonna and Craig Dawson during his spell at London Stadium. As a result, the Frenchman could only muster 15 starts last season. It has been a similar story this term, although the injury woes of Ogbonna and new signing Kurt Zouma have yet again made him a crucial part of the defensive setup.
West Ham were primarily hoping to sign an additional defender in the January transfer window. However, they have not quite been successful in their pursuit of top targets such as Lloyd Kelly and Attila Szalai. They have most recently set their sights on a deadline day swoop for John Egan.
The Sheffield United centre-back, though, was only identified as an emergency replacement for Diop, should the Frenchman leave the club in January. As it stands, a move to Newcastle United remains unlikely, with the Hammers determined to keep hold of their defensive stalwart.
Much like their fellow Premier League club, the Magpies have not had much luck in the pursuit of a centre-back this month. The likes of Sven Botman, Diego Carlos and Benoit Badiashile have all slipped out of reach, prompting the club to resort to their final fallback option in the form of Dan Burn.
Many reports in England suggest the Brighton & Hove Albion star will become the fourth and the last recruit for Newcastle United this January. However, with time running out, both parties need to move swiftly if they are to get the deal across the line before the transfer window slams to a shut.
