Hammers defender Issa Diop and manager David Moyes are reportedly at odds over West Ham’s transfer stance as Milan make a move.
Diop started the season as West Ham’s fourth choice centre-back under Moyes behind Angelo Ogbonna, Kurt Zouma and Craig Dawson.
And it has been easy to see why during a dismal run of form since the November international break.
West Ham got back to winning ways with a 4-1 triumph at Watford yesterday. But the Hammers still looked vulnerable defensively with Mark Noble even admitting after the game that the Hornets “caused our two centre-backs problems”.
Many West Ham fans hoped Diop could go on to forge a formidable partnership with Zouma in the future.
But his performances have been far from convincing.
That has not put AC Milan off, though.
According to reports in Italy the San Siro giants want Diop in January.
And it appears Diop and Moyes are at odds over West Ham’s transfer stance. According to Football Italia the Hammers defender is ‘enthusiastic’ about joining Milan but the manager wants to keep him at the London Stadium.
Issa Diop and David Moyes at odds over West Ham transfer stance as Milan make move – report
“Another target is Diop, who seems enthusiastic about the idea of joining Stefano Pioli’s Scudetto contenders,” Football Italia reports.
“Again there is a problem here, because Italy international Angelo Ogbonna’s injury makes it unlikely West Ham United will let him go in the January transfer window.
“The Frenchman turns 25 next month and his contract runs to June 2023, with an option to extend for another year. Diop made only 13 competitive appearances for the Hammers this season, most of them off the bench.”
If West Ham can get a decent fee for Diop from Milan they should not hesitate to sell.
The former French youth international has had so many chances to prove he can rediscover the form of his debut season, which saw him labelled a ‘monster’ by Jose Mourinho.
But Diop has never been able to consistently hit those heights since, despite working with two top defensive coaches in Moyes and assistant boss Stuart Pearce.
If selling Diop enables West Ham to somehow sign both then it is a no-brainer.