Lyon are looking to build their defence for the future in the summer transfer window and have identified West Ham United star Issa Diop as an option to replace Jerome Boateng.
That’s according to L’Equipe, who report Les Gones are eager to acquire a centre-half who can serve a long-term role. Boateng has disappointed since joining the Ligue 1 side for free on a two year deal in September following the expiration of his contract at Bayern Munich.
The 2018 World Cup winner has struggled to offer the Groupama Stadium outfit a regular option this year between injuries. He has also only featured in two of their Europa League ties, on route to securing a quarter-finals showdown with the Hammers on April 7 and 14.
Instead, 19-year-old Castello Lukeba has broken through to establish himself ahead of the 33-year-old German in France’s Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region. Now, Lyon want to sign his long-term partner, and hope to attract Diop from West Ham in the next transfer window.
Gones head of recruitment Bruno Cheyrou and his team believe the former Toulouse star will complement Lukeba perfectly. So, with his £67k-a-week Irons contract expiring in 2023 and Diop struggling for minutes under David Moyes, Lyon are targeting a summer transfer.
Lyon want West Ham defender Issa Diop to replace Jerome Boateng this summer
Diop has played 23 times for West Ham across all competitions so far this season, but has only started 20. Of his outings, just nine starts from 11 games have also come in a Premier League fixture. Instead, five starts and six outings have come in Europe as a rotation piece.
His only involvement in the Irons’ last 16 win over Sevilla also came as a 119th-minute sub in the second-leg. Moyes introduced the enforcer, who teammate Craig Dawson considers ‘excellent’, to help see out a 2-0 result and avoid penalties after Andriy Yarmolenko’s goal.
Now, Moyes may look to cut West Ham’s losses and sanction a transfer with Lyon for Diop. But the Hammers will struggle to recoup the £22m they paid Toulouse in 2018. As seen in the €8m (£7m) offer RMC Sport reported Newcastle lodged on deadline day this January.
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