---
title: "Exclusive: Pundit tells Issa Diop to embrace the arrival of Kurt Zouma at West Ham"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/exclusive-pundit-tells-issa-diop-to-embrace-the-arrival-of-kurt-zouma-at-west-ham-transfers-chelsea-e316/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Caleb Sage"
section: "Exclusive"
published: "2021-09-16T05:20:52Z"
modified: "2021-09-16T05:20:52Z"
---

# Exclusive: Pundit tells Issa Diop to embrace the arrival of Kurt Zouma at West Ham

**Former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer has urged Issa Diop to embrace Kurt Zouma’s West Ham arrival and the challenge it has brought with it.**

Zouma is likely to be West Ham’s first-choice central defender this season after joining from London rivals Chelsea in a [big-money deal](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58372384).

Diop has not always been a regular under David Moyes, [failing to start](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/issa-diop/leistungsdaten/spieler/272622) a single Premier League game this campaign so far, and was [linked with a move away](https://www.footmercato.net/a8751205607338133206-la-premier-league-sactive-pour-issa-diop) from the club during the summer transfer window.

\[freshpress-poll id=”374048″\]

However, the Frenchman remained at the London Stadium and Palmer is now urging him to accept this added challenge his compatriot has brought with his arrival.

*“He’s a talented, talented centre-back, isn’t he?”* the ex-Leeds United player said to **TT**. *“When they signed him he was a young player; they paid a lot of money for him. Listen, it’s always good to have competition. He’s got to work hard.*

*“He’s just got to get his head down and work as hard as he can to get back into the team and secure a regular first-team slot – always good to have competition for places because that improves your own performance.“*

Diop [played a lot](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/issa-diop/leistungsdaten/spieler/272622/plus/0?saison=2020) in the second half of last season and was not sold during the summer transfer window so is a player still clearly in David Moyes’ plans. Perhaps the arrival of Zouma could help raise his game to the next level as he looks to win and then retain a place in the Hammers’ starting XI.