West Ham fans in the Transfer Tavern are delighted at the names being linked with a move to the London Stadium now the transfer window is open.
Manuel Pellegrini has begun to revamp the West Ham squad in order to return to the top half of the Premier League. Fulham defender, Ryan Fredericks, became the first signing of the Pellegrini era after impressing for the Cottagers in their successful promotion bid. The latest developments coming from the London Stadium suggest another signing is just around the corner.
The Hammers are on the verge of sealing a £22m deal for Toulouse defender – Issa Diop – according to reports. A transfer was agreed on Wednesday afternoon, and the Frenchman will travel to London to discuss personal terms. Bar any late hitches, signing Diop could prove to be one of the signings of the summer.
Valued at £19.8m by Transfermarkt, the 21-year-old captains France’s U23 national side. Diop is a commanding figure in the heart of defence, standing 6’ 4” tall. He made 34 appearances in Ligue 1 next season as Toulouse secured safety in the division, scoring three goals.
Diop has all the right attributes to be a success in the Premier League. Tall and strong, he would face no issues when dealing with physical forwards. The Frenchman is young and still developing. Under Pellegrini’s guidance, he will be a mainstay in the West Ham defence for years to come.
West Ham fans, thoughts?
