Barcelona have reportedly joined the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and others in pursuit of highly-rated Toulouse youngster Issa Diop.
According to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have joined the long queue for Toulouse youngster Issa Diop. The young defender is also being tailed by the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal, Tottenham and several more clubs, all of whom have been tracking the player’s performances at Toulouse.
All of 21, it is crazy to fathom that Diop already has 80 senior appearances under his belt for Toulouse – 21 of them coming in Ligue 1 this season. The defender has carried on his duties with aplomb, with an air of assurance surrounding his performance that is perhaps, unheard of in a 21-year-old.
It is not his defensive actions alone that have seen him garner so much interest in his services, but his aerial prowess in set-piece situations, which is helped by his towering stature. The 21-year-old has already been tailed by the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal, Tottenham and it seems Barcelona have entered the queue as well.
All of the aforementioned suitors have already scouted the player on multiple occasions this season so far and he surely must have left a good impression thus far.
Mundo Deportivo write #thfc are interested in signing Toulouse defender Issa Diop after heavily scouting the player. pic.twitter.com/QHaaXCQZvY
— Hotspur Lane (@HotspurLane) February 14, 2018
For Real Madrid, Arsenal and Tottenham, the addition of a central defender is very much needed. Real Madrid have endured a tough time in defence this season and have been linked with several short-term solutions. But, the summer pursuit of Issa Diop might be one that solves the problems in the long-run as well.
At Arsenal, the central defenders have often flattered to deceive, with Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny criticised for not showing as consistent of a form to warrant to be a regular fixture in the playing eleven of a team that wants to fight for silverware. Konstantinos Mavropanos has arrived but unlike Diop, the Greek does not have as expansive an experience of senior football.
Tottenham are fearing the exit of Toby Alderweireld come summer, with the Belgian locked in a contract standoff with the club. Thus, Pochettino would ideally want to bring in another defender to beef up his options at the back, with Issa Diop a perfect fit as to the profile of players Spurs like to sign.
Barcelona too, are looking at the prospect of losing, arguably, their best defender in the squad right now in Samuel Umtiti. The Frenchman is reported to be enticed with the prospect of joining the illustrious Premier League along with the riches on offer by Manchester United.
Diop is already a French Under-21 international and appears to have rejected the chance of representing Morocco, which means he has his eyes locked on earning the French senior cap And it may soon arrive, if he continues his form in Ligue 1. But, by the time it arrives, he might be donning a different club jersey, be it Barcelona, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Tottenham or someone else.
