---
title: "Arsenal: Club made enquiry for Issa Diop earlier in the transfer window"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-club-made-enquiry-for-issa-diop-earlier-in-the-transfer-window/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Uways Nisar"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2019-08-02T14:45:51Z"
modified: "2019-08-02T14:45:51Z"
---

# Arsenal: Club made enquiry for Issa Diop earlier in the transfer window

**Arsenal targeted a move for West Ham United star Issa Diop earlier in this summer’s transfer window, [according to Foot Mercato (via Hammers News).](https://www.hammers.news/club-news/report-arsenal-wanted-to-sign-west-ham-ace-issa-diop/)**

The North London giants were quoted a priced reported to be [£59.3m](https://www.hammers.news/club-news/report-arsenal-wanted-to-sign-west-ham-ace-issa-diop/) when making an enquiry.

[Foot Mercato (via Hammers News)](https://www.hammers.news/club-news/report-arsenal-wanted-to-sign-west-ham-ace-issa-diop/) are reporting that Arsenal were very impressed by Diop last season, hence their enquiry.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

The Gunners weren’t the only club interested in a move for the centre-back with Premier League rivals [Manchester United](https://www.hammers.news/club-news/report-arsenal-wanted-to-sign-west-ham-ace-issa-diop/) also said to have been interested earlier in the window.

Links with Diop could be due to Arsenal’s bad defensive record last season, as the Gunners conceded a mammoth[71 goals in all competitions](https://www.tablesleague.com/teams/arsenal1/). However, Diop is not the only centre-back Unai Emery’s side have been linked with this summer.

Arsenal have also been linked with moves for Benfica’s [Ruben Dias](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7242581/Arsenal-revive-Benficas-Ruben-Dias-wake-Koscielny-snub.html), and Juventus centre-back [Daniele Rugani](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/transfer-talk/news/arsenal-interested-in-daniele-rugani_366580.html) (as per Gazzetta dello Sport, via Sportsmole) for whom they are reported to have made a two-year loan bid.

[Diop enjoyed a good debut season](https://www.90min.com/posts/6423822-arsenal-made-issa-diop-enquiry-but-scared-off-by-west-ham-s-asking-price) in the Premier League, outclassing Shkodran Mustafi, who has been linked with a move away from the Emirates this summer. According to WhoScored.com, the [22-year-old](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/300359/Show/Issa-Diop) beats [Mustafi](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/80921/Show/Shkodran-Mustafi) in every defensive statistic bar clearances and the number of times dribbled past per game.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

It’s clear to see that Diop is by far the better defender when compared to Mustafi, whom [Emery reportedly wants to get rid of this summer.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9384014/arsenal-sell-mustafi-transfer-list-ever-window-2016-signing/) His statistics outweighs that of the Germany international, and at just £59.3m would seem a bargain, when compared to someone like [Harry Maguire](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11775298/frustrated-harry-maguire-to-miss-leicester-city-friendly-amid-manchester-united-interest) for whom Leicester City want a world record £85m.

In recent days it has emerged that Arsenal are expecting players to leave the club, with [BBC’s David Ornstein](https://twitter.com/bbcsport_david/status/1156132528325050368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1156132528325050368&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Farseblog.news%2F2019%2F07%2Fornstein-arsenal-in-talks-over-potential-mustafi-exit%2F) reporting that the north London club are in talks with a number clubs over the exit of Mustafi, so there could be money to spend even after the [£72m capture of Nicolas Pepe.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49197553)

***Arsenal fans, is Diop the defensive signing Emery needs this summer? Comment below!***