West Ham could swoop for Liverpool star after Issa Diop exit report – expert
West Ham will sanction the exit of Issa Diop this summer amid interest from Lyon.
That is the view of former Premier League striker Noel Whelan, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the 25-year-old’s future at the London Stadium.
According to L’Equipe, via Get Football News France (31 March), Lyon are interest in bolstering their centre-half options withe the addition of Diop.
The French defender has struggled for game time this season, with David Moyes preferring the partnership of Craig Dawson and Kurt Zouma.
Diop’s contract at the London Stadium runs until the summer of 2023.
When asked by Football Insider‘s Russell Edge for his assessment of Diop’s future, Whelan said: “I think they can afford to let him go.
“They have Zouma now and Craig Dawson has provided quality and consistency this season. He has been the standout player out of all of the centre-halves for me. David Moyes knows how important Dawson is at the back. He’s a leader and a competitor. He’s their rock at the back.
“Diop is not getting in the side so I think they’ll let him go and look elsewhere.
“It doesn’t surprise me to hear he might leave. I think they will let him if the right offer comes in.
“They can use that to sign another player, maybe someone from Liverpool.”
Joe Gomez’s future at Liverpool is uncertain, with the centre-half now behind Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate in the pecking order.
West Ham have also been previously linked with a move for Nat Phillips, who is currently on loan at Bournemouth.
In other news, Kieran Maguire has claimed an imminent overhaul is ‘bad news’ for West Ham amid damaging FFP reveal.