Issa Diop is starting to make his mark at West Ham United and shone in the Premier League draw against Chelsea at the London Stadium.
There were certainly plenty of eyebrows raised when West Ham United spent a then-club record £22 million to sign a 21-year-old centre-back from a club who finished 18th in the French top flight last season.
But Issa Diop’s display against Chelsea on Sunday provided the first clear sign as to why West Ham were willing to invest so much in the France U21 international.
Starting alongside fellow new arrival Fabian Balbuena, Diop stood out as the Hammers brought an end to Chelsea’s 100 per cent start to the season with a combative goalless draw at the London Stadium.
Diop made three interceptions and six clearances, while showcasing his quality on the ball with a 94 per cent pass completion rate.
And he certainly caught the eye of Stan Collymore, who included the former Toulouse skipper in his latest Team of the Week for the Mirror.
“Turning in a performance which belied his 21 years, West Ham’s summer signing was excellent in subduing a Chelsea side who came to the London Stadium with a 100 per cent record,” Collymore said.
Diop was named Toulouse captain at the age of just 20 so it is perhaps no surprise that he has not been haunted by West Ham’s dreadful start to the season, which saw them lose their first four games of the 2018/19 campaign.
Impressive performances against Chelsea and Everton suggest that he and Balbuena could make West Ham, who conceded more goals than anyone else last season, far more solid in the months ahead.
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