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West Ham defender Issa Diop opens up on PSG links

Manager of West Ham Manuel Pellegrini ahead of the Premier League match between West Ham United and Burnley FC at London Stadium on November 03, 20...
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Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain are understood to be targeting West Ham United’s £22m Premier League centre-back Issa Diop.

Issa Diop of West Ham United during Training at Rush Green on August 16, 2018 in Romford, England.

Issa Diop has only been a West Ham United player since the summer, but reports are suggesting that he is already a £50 million target for one of the most ambitious clubs in Europe.

According to the Mail, Paris Saint-Germain have been watching the 21-year-old former Toulouse captain for a long-time and could be prepared to more than double the £22 million West Ham paid to sign the talented defender.

Diop has a five-year contract at the London Stadium so the Hammers hold all the cards right now. And, speaking to beIN Sports (5 November, 9:00am), the France U21 international has now moved to play down suggestions of a move to the French capital.

“Honestly, I know nothing about a PSG winter move,” he said. “I learned the information like you did, I saw them via social media.

“Perhaps my agent knows more, I need to check with him! I am very good with West Ham right now. I am enjoying getting to know the Premier League each weekend.”

Diop has made an impressive start to life in English football, starting nine Premier League games and forming a promising partnership with the Paraguayan international Fabian Balbuena.

Issa Diop of West Ham gestures during the Premier League match between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on September 16, 2018 in Liverpool, England.

But PSG’s defensive problems have been brutally exposed against top opposition of late, particularly in the Champions League, where they have conceded five times against Liverpool and Napoli.

PSG’s moneybags owners, the Qatar Sports Investment, are under pressure to invest in the defensive half of the pitch with Thomas Tuchel’s team looking increasingly lopsided.

Gylfi Sigurdsson of Everton and Issa Diop during the Premier League match between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on September 16, 2018 in Liverpool, England.