Newcastle United are admirers of West Ham defender Issa Diop but only see the £22 million Premier League centre-half as a ‘back up’ option, according to The Athletic.
Then again, even if Diop was their first choice, convincing West Ham to cash in during the January transfer window would be a challenge equivalent to directing an Oscar-winning movie starring Megan Fox and Adam Sandler.
As such, Diop has suddenly become an integral part of a Hammers side whose already strained squad threatens to be stretched even further by those energy-sapping Europa League commitments.
Could Issa Diop leave West Ham for Newcastle?
The former France U21 international, who captained Toulouse at the age of just 20, has been somewhat hit-and-miss since returning to the starting XI.
There is an argument to be made that Diop was at fault for both of the goals Crystal Palace scored during last week’s Selhurst Park thriller.
Linked with a £60 million move to Manchester United two-and-half years ago after being labelled a ‘monster’ by Jose Mourinho, Diop certainly hasn’t lived up to early expectations at the London Stadium.
Nonetheless, you’re a fool if you think West Ham would entertain January bids, even if David Moyes is planning to bring in another centre-half before the month is out.
According to The Athletic, Diop is only a ‘back-up’ option as far as Newcastle are concerned anyway.
The likes of Nathan Ake and Lloyd Kelly – both of whom played for Eddie Howe at Bournemouth – are far higher up the club’s mid-season wishlist with James Tarkowski, Ben Mee and Dan-Axel Zagadou also in their sights.
According to talkSPORT and The Athletic, Newcastle had an opening bid of £25 million rejected by La Liga challengers Sevilla for Diego Carlos on Thursday afternoon.
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