Newcastle United have reportedly now ‘established contacts’ over the potential signing of Issa Diop in the January transfer window.
The Lowdown: Not a regular
Diop has not been a regular for West Ham United at all so far this season, and his recent starts (Transfermarkt) have only coincided with injuries to both Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma at centre-back.
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Thus, he may want a move away from the London Stadium in order to gain more regular football, especially when those two players come back.
If he wants to stay in the Premier League, St. James’ Park may well be an ideal destination for him given the Magpies’ own defensive struggles.
The Latest: Contacts made
As per Foot Mercato journalist and transfer expert Santi Aouna, both the North East club as well as Watford have now ‘established contacts’ over signing Diop next month.
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However, they may face competition from AC Milan for his signature, as Sport Witness shared the news from Aouna with the additional information that the defender was also linked with leaving east London during the summer.
The Verdict: Get it done
The Tyneside outfit have conceded no fewer than 42 goals in the top flight so far this season, the joint-most along with bottom-placed Norwich City, and so it is clear that their defence needs strengthening.
Diop, who already has the Premier League experience, would certainly help do that, as his six-foot-four frame would be a real asset to have in both boxes – Jose Mourinho even went as far as to dub him a ‘monster‘ back in 2018 after dominating so many duels against his Manchester United team.
Nonetheless, he is also capable with the ball at his feet and is comfortable with playing out from the back, emphasised by averaging more passes (39.8) at a higher success rate (82.9%) than Ciaran Clark, Fabian Schar, and Jamaal Lascelles in the top flight so far this campaign (WhoScored).
Given that he knows the demands of the division, Diop could be perfect for a relegation battle.
In other news, find out who NUFC are now ‘exploring’ to sign here!
