After arriving at West Ham United amid a flurry of interest from afar, Issa Diop has not really kicked on under David Moyes. The Frenchman arrived in England with a massive reputation, and within months of arriving was being linked with various juggernauts of the European game. However, his light has dimmed massively since those early days to the point where he is now being touted for an exit from West Ham in the January window. This leaves one major interested party in Tottenham Hotspur likely to make a move to help bolster the squad.
Despite signing Joe Rodon late on in the ‘summer’ window, Spurs have been looking for a more consistent backline all year. Several key performers from the past have failed to live up to expectation, which has made it hard for Jose Mourinho to get a proven defensive system out there on the pitch. With that in mind, a move for Diop would provide Mourinho with a player he has long admired and who would be a good complement for most other Spurs defenders.
Pacey, athletic, agile, and decent on the ball; there are many positives to the game of Diop. Though he has been shown to be somewhat rash at times, he also showed remarkable composure early on in his Irons career. A move to Spurs and the chance to play for a coach who really rates him would also be an ideal chance for the defender to find his own form and confidence once again.
Having once been seen as the major asset at West Ham, like others he has slowly gone off the boil and fell away from the first-team picture. Now, it looks like an exit – at least on loan – is the most likely next step for all involved.
Are West Ham likely to loan Diop to a major rival?
While many might scoff at the idea of West Ham, who themselves are fighting for European contention, providing a domestic opponent with a key player. Yet this has been a regular transfer path for players over the years, with both clubs all too happy to do business with each other when the opportunity arises. From Jermain Defoe and Bobby Zamora to Matt Etherington and various other names, this has been a well-trod path among players in the past. Why should Diop be any different?
Having dropped behind players like Angelo Ogbonna and Fabian Balbuena in the pecking order, an exit from West Ham seems almost the most likely outcome now for a young player who still has massive potential. At only 24, there is no shortage of time for Diop to get things back to a consistent level. However, his rather dispiriting drop-off in form in the last year or so might have some fans concerned about what has happened to see such a major asset fall so far in terms of performance.
For Spurs, though, it might be the ideal time to get a long-term target involved with the club moving forward.
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