90Min claim Paris Saint-Germain have told West Ham that they will not loan Abdou Diallo to the Hammers, or elsewhere. They are happy to sell the left-footed defender though, for a fee of £21million in the next fortnight.
Diallo, 25, has been in and out of PSG’s side since joining the club from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2019. He has played 72 times, a decent amount but far from first choice. He has completed 90 minutes in 47 games.
Now at the African Cup of Nations with Senegal, any deal for Diallo could be complicated by his participation in the competition. But West Ham are keen, and were said to be looking at a loan deal for the left-footed ace.
The report from 90Min’s Italian website claims Milan are battling West Ham for Diallo – but that the Hammers’ interest in the defender is “strong”. They say PSG will reject a loan, but will accept a permanent £21million exit.
West Ham eye Diallo: £21m is a decent fee for PSG star
Firstly, West Ham need a central defender. Angeo Ogbonna is out for the season, the club’s only left-footed central defender. Of course, Aaron Cresswell can play there but David Moyes has preferred four at the back.
Kurt Zouma is closing in on a return, but it has left the Hammers with just Craig Dawson and Issa Diop – the latter being linked with an exit himself. So, Diallo makes sense. A loan deal would have been ideal for Diallo.
Indeed, the Hammers might not need him when Ogbonna returns. But a good compromise is a loan-to-buy deal, perhaps a decent loan fee up top and a permanent clause between £15million and £20million makes sense.
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