Manchester United have pursued the signing of young West Ham United centre back Issa Diop over the last few days, but their bid of £45 million was not deemed to be good enough for the Hammers, who rejected it. Now, the London club want French winger Anthony Martial included in the deal to sign Diop, as per Independent. Another report from The Sun states that West Ham will only part ways with the French centre back for a fee of around £60 million.
Diop was signed by the Hammers from Toulouse last year for a fee of around £22 million and he put pen to paper on a five-year contract with the English club.
The 22-year-old defender adapted quickly and very well to the English game and was probably one of West Ham’s best players of the 2018-19 season, even being applauded by then Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, who praised the West Ham scouting network.
Diop came through the ranks at Toulouse, having joined the French club back in 2006 and went on to play for the senior team. He made his senior debut at 18 years of age and went on to make 85 appearances for the French side before his move to England and West Ham. The central defender has also represented France in youth football, and last played in the French U21 side.
Is it a good deal for Manchester United?
Issa Diop is a promising player who can go on to become a star for the French national team and whichever club he plays for. The 22-year-old has all the attributes to take his game to the next level – height, technical skills, as well as determination to be a world-class central defender.
Manchester United can certainly use a player of his quality and potential in their backline, but it would be foolish to exchange Anthony Martial for him, or even let go of Martial. Martial has blown hot and cold over the last two seasons, but he has shown that he has the talent and technical ability to be a world-beater some day. This deal does not make sense as United lack serious firepower at the moment, and if rumours of Romelu Lukaku’s exit as well as the potential exit of Alexis Sanchez are true, the Red Devils will be left with just Marcus Rashford as their only first-team striker.
The English club should sign Diop but the deal to bring him to Old Trafford should not see a talented individual like Anthony Martial leave the club.
