Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy have intervened in the club’s transfer activity as the Lilywhites line up ‘exciting’ player talks, according to reports.
The Lowdown: Paratici busy…
Spurs, after completing a £25 million deal to sign Premier League star Yves Bissouma recently, are now setting their sights on more key additions.
The Evening Standard claim a right-wing-back, central defensive star and new striker are the current priorities in north London as transfer chief Fabio Paratici gets moving.
Three major incomings, including Bissouma, have already been confirmed with both Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster preceding the Mali international on Bosman deals.
The Latest: Sky share big update as Spurs line up ‘talks’
Following this plethora of activity, it appears Spurs have set their sights on another move as they line up talks.
According to Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas, sharing news on Twitter, Lilywhites hierarchy have even intervened as chairman Daniel Levy ‘personally’ drives a deal for Middlesbrough starlet Djed Spence.
He explained:
“Tottenham set for further talks over signing Djed Spence. Daniel Levy personally driving this deal as Fabio Paratici concentrates on other targets. Initial talks did not find agreement but Spence wants #Spurs move.“
The Verdict: Exciting…
The 21-year-old, called a ‘perfect player’ for manager Antonio Conte, seriously impressed whilst on loan at Nottingham Forest over 2021/2022.
Spence was a key figure in their promotion push and his status as a homegrown player could also help Tottenham balance the books in terms of their worrying quota.
Called an ‘exciting player’ also by members of the press (Marc Williams, Basford United head of media), it’s little wonder Levy has personally intervened and is attempting to strike an agreement.
Wolves have been linked with a move for Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks recently, but there is little to suggest that he would be a worthwhile addition to Bruno Lage’s side.
What’s the word?
According to 90min, Spurs are looking to cash in on the former England international this summer, and the Old Gold are among the clubs taking an interest.
Brentford, Crystal Palace, Everton and Leicester are also said to be keen on the 26-year-old, while Spurs have reportedly offered him to Rangers, which suggests that his future lies away from north London this summer.
Lage would be crazy to sign him
Although the Wolves futures of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho have been in doubt, The Athletic have suggested that it is increasingly likely that both will stay at Molineux this summer.
Even if they do leave, it would represent a significant downgrade if Winks came in to fill the void, considering his less than impressive form for Spurs in recent years.
Last season saw the midfielder make 19 appearances in the Premier League, in which he contributed no goals and one assist, with WhoScored awarding him a shocking 6.43 rating for his performances.
Nobody who made more than 10 starts in the league for Lage’s side last term had a worse average rating, which suggests that he certainly wouldn’t improve what Wolves already have.
Having graduated from Spurs’ academy, the midfielder has gone on to make 202 appearances for the first team, but he has never averaged a seasonal WhoScored rating of more than 6.57 for his performances in the Premier League, which suggests that he would be a rather underwhelming signing by the Old Gold.
Journalist Josh Bunting did not hold back in his criticism of Winks when discussing a potential move to Everton recently, saying: “Do Everton honestly not learn, 20-25 million for Harry Winks is an absolute waste. A club that have got themselves into an awkward situation regarding financial fair play and then go out and spend that money on an utterly pointless player right now for them. Crazy.”
Therefore, even if Neves and Moutinho do end up departing, Wolves would be better off looking elsewhere than signing Winks for £20m, as he could be a disastrous addition to Lage’s side judging by his fortunes over the past 12 months in particular.
In other news… Lage could seal dream Nunes partner with Wolves bid for “very talented” starlet
Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Sonny Perkins to north London this summer.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to a claim made by ExWHUemployee, who revealed in a recent thread on Twitter that, following the forward’s departure from West Ham United on Friday, Fabio Paratici has now made a move for the 18-year-old, who is also a target for Leeds United.
In his tweets, the Irons insider said: “He was meant to be going to Leeds but Spurs, the club he supports, made a late move. He has a decision to make between the two now, I believe. Leeds or Spurs.”
“The next Declan Rice”
Considering just how highly-rated a prospect Perkins is, it is easy to see why Paratici would be interested in a deal to bring the England under-18 international to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.
Indeed, the £1.08m-rated talent impressed for Mark Robson’s West Ham under-23 side in 2021/22, scoring 12 goals and registering one assist over his four outings in the Under-18 Premier League last season.
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These performances led to David Moyes calling up the former Leyton Orient starlet to his on the bench for the round of 16 win over Sevilla and the quarter-final victory against Lyon.
Furthermore, speaking about the The West Ham Way podcast towards the end of 2021, ExWHUemployee went as far as to suggest that the teenager could go on to become the Hammers’ next Declan Rice.
He stated: “One player to pay attention to is a West Ham youngster called Sonny Perkins. This is someone I’ve spoken about on the podcast before as a talent, and he’s really beginning to stand out now at academy level, really getting rave reviews.
“Obviously, he’s performing on the international stage as well for his age, and he is one to keep an eye on. From what I’ve heard in the academy circles, he could be the next Declan Rice. So just keep your eye out for his progression within the next few years.”
As such, while Perkins may not be a signing who would make an immediate impact within Antonio Conte’s first-team squad next season, the 18-year-old – who James Marshment backed to become a “£30m player” – is undoubtedly an incredibly exciting prospect for the future.
We believe that the forward’s signing would be an extremely astute piece of business for Paratici to get over the line this summer for Spurs, especially on a free transfer.
AND in other news: Fabrizio Romano claims Spurs are now set to seal fifth summer signing “very soon”, Conte surely buzzing
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is ‘really pushing’ to sign Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Lowdown: ‘Official proposal’
The Red Devils are finally making progress in the transfer market ahead of the 52-year-old’s first season in charge at Old Trafford. United look set to sign Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia and have also reached a verbal agreement with free agent Christian Eriksen.
They also appear to be getting closer to agreeing a fee with Barcelona for priority target Frenkie de Jong and have recently made an ‘official proposal’ to Martinez.
The Latest: Romano’s comments
Romano has now shed further light on the situation involving Martinez and Manchester United, claiming that the Argentine is well aware that Ten Hag ‘is really pushing’ to bring him to Old Trafford.
The Italian told GiveMeSport: “At the moment, the man who is pushing is Erik ten Hag and so this could be a factor. The player has not decided yet, but he knows that Erik ten Hag can be a factor. The player knows that Erik is really pushing to have him at Manchester United.”
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The Verdict: Get it done
Martinez was described as an “excellent player” by Ten Hag and was a regular under the Dutchman at the Johan Cruyff Arena last season prior to suffering a muscular injury in April.
He played his part in an Ajax team which conceded just 19 goals in 34 league games, whereas United had a season to forget at the back, shipping more goals than relegated Burnley.
Therefore, signing a tried and trusted defender under Ten Hag appears to be a no-brainer, especially with Martinez also able to cover at full-back and in midfield and being at the peak of his powers with a career-high £28.8m Transfermarkt valuation.
Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth reports that West Ham have had a second bid for Lille midfielder Amadou Onana rejected.
The Lowdown: Opening offer turned down
The 20-year-old still has four years remaining on his contract with the Ligue 1 outfit so certainly won’t be easy to prise away, but has been the subject of plenty of interest from the Premier League.
According to The Athletic, the Irons had an opening £19.4m offer rejected last week, with their efforts being frustrated even more by the news that Arsenal have already held talks over a potential move to the Emirates.
After taking a second bite at the cherry though, the Hammers have been dealt yet another setback in their pursuit.
The Latest: Second West Ham bid rejected
Taking to Twitter, Sheth revealed that yet another West Ham offer for Onana has been turned down, with the club now exploring elsewhere despite their interest. He wrote:
“Had it confirmed West Ham United have had a second bid rejected by Lille for midfielder Amadou Onana. The offer was believed to be around €30m. While West Ham haven’t closed the door on pursuing the player, it is thought they are looking at other options.”
The Verdict: Long-term partnership?
Onana was a significant player in Lille’s starting XI last season, making 32 Ligue 1 appearances and netting one goal during that time, via WhoScored.
His key strength though is in the defensive part of his game, having averaged 1.5 tackles per league 90 minutes, an attribute which David Moyes loves in seeing his players get stuck in.
Standing at 6 foot 3, the Belgian could also add Soucek-esque dimension to the midfield and has the ability to form a great long-term partnership alongside Declan Rice, but only if the Irons up their financial game to secure both Onana’s services and the long-term future of their talisman.
West Ham United are believed to be plotting a move for Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca, according to the latest reports.
What’s the word?
As per journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Hammers are said to be “preparing” a bid for the Italy international this summer, with the fee set to be in the region of €40m, (£34m) – potentially shy of the Serie A outfit’s €50m asking price.
Writing on Twitter about the east Londoners’ interest, Romano stated that: “West Ham are preparing an opening, verbal bid around €40m for Gianluca Scamacca. He’s in the list alongside Armando Broja, who just joined Chelsea squad in the USA & there’s lot of competition. #WHUFC Sassuolo want €50m for Scamacca. PSG, not intentioned to pay that much.”
This follows a previous report from 90min that revealed that David Moyes and co had made contact with the Italian side regarding the seven-cap gem – as well as teammate and compatriot Giacomo Raspadori – ahead of a possible swoop in the coming weeks and months.
Arnautovic 2.0
A player also on the radar of Paris Saint-Germain, Scamacca enjoyed a real breakthrough season during the 2021/22 campaign, the £27m-rated ace bagging 16 goals in 36 league games, netting at a rate of a goal every 135 minutes.
Prior to that, the imposing, 6 foot 5 menace had netted eight times in 26 league games while on loan at Genoa, having also worked his way into the international reckoning under Roberto Mancini in recent times.
Dubbed a “complete” player by former Italy U21 coach Luigi Di Biagio, the £3.2k-per-week striker seemingly has all the tools to be a success at the London Stadium, while he also notably ranks in the top 7% for non-penalty goals among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues.
His imposing, forceful presence in leading the line could evoke memories of a certain former Hammers star in Marko Arnautovic, with the pair sharing a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, as per FBref.
While the Austrian gem may have been a controversial figure during his time in English football – moving to the London Stadium from Stoke City on a £25m deal in 2017 – the dynamic forward emerged as something of a cult figure following his impressive displays leading the line, despite an eventual sour end to his time at the club.
In just two years with the Irons, the 102-cap international – who has netted 33 times for his country – reached double figures for league goals across each of his two campaigns at the club, while also netting 22 goals and providing 12 assists in 65 games across all competitions in total.
The hope will be that Scamacca – who has endured controversies of his own – can equal or even eclipse the impact of the 33-year-old should he sign this summer, both with his goalscoring quality and his imposing presence on the pitch, with Moyes seemingly set to be able to find his new talisman in the Rome-born brute.
The former Everton boss has previously lauded Arnautovic and spoken about how he helped transform the striker’s fortunes during his first spell in charge at the club, with the Scotsman likely chomping at the bit to get to work with his heir apparent, Scamacca.
AND in other news: West Ham closing in on “remarkable” £10m target, it would be a “masterstroke” by Moyes
Spurs manager, Antonio Conte, signed a new centre-back last week in the shape of Clement Lenglet, for his three-at-the-back system.
Lenglet will join Spurs next season, on loan from Barcelona without an option to buy, but how does the performance of five other centre-backs linked to the club compare? Let’s assess the decision to sign the Frenchman by Fabio Paratici versus other centre-back competition.
Clement Lenglet
In comparison with the other contenders, Lenglet was a surprising choice of signing for Spurs’ new centre-back. With only seven starts and 14 sub appearances last season, it’s safe to say that Lenglet has fallen out of favour at Barcelona. This shows in his low market value at only £10.8m.
Lenglet didn’t score last term but did achieve one assist. In addition, the 27-year-old Frenchman won 20 tackles, 13 interceptions and 93 duels. These stats are not too bad considering his lack of playing time under new Barca boss Xavi.
Lenglet’s speciality is his versatile passing ability, using both short and long-range passes to successfully progress the ball up the pitch. His 6 foot 1 height advantage has also helped him to win 39% of his aerial duels last campaign. A piece of his game he needs to work on is his concentration, as he’s often caught off-guard. He also draws a lot of fouls – committing a total of 19 in 2021/22.
Bremer
Soccer Football – Serie A – Torino v Inter Milan – Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, Turin, Italy – March 13, 2022 Torino’s Bremer celebrates scoring their first goal with Tommaso Pobega REUTERS/Massimo Pinca
Bremer, a 25-year-old centre-back from Brazil, is valued at £31.5m and was linked with Tottenham earlier this summer. The defensive player of the year last season, in the Serie A, he has the fifth highest duels won in the League, including 47% successful aerial duels.
His aerial dominance comes into play from corners from which he has scored three headers in 2021/22. A key strength is his physicality and outstanding upper body strength; which would have come in handy when facing strikers such as Erling Haaland if he’d moved to Spurs.
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Bremer can also function as a left-back but this wouldn’t entirely be necessary in Conte’s system as he tends to play with wing-backs. Other big clubs including Juventus, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man United have also been interested in this player, demonstrating how highly thought of he is at Europe’s top table.
The up and coming star has good on-the-ball skills, as you would expect from a Brazilian, so can play out of a high press. This would be effective against a team such as Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool with their Gegenpress system.
Creativity is Bremer’s downfall, with only one assist last term, although he can’t be faulted for that as he isn’t a typical, ball-playing, modern centre-back. It is his defensive skills that stand out, shown by his combined 154 tackles and interceptions this season. These statistics evoke memories of a prime Nemanja Vidic.
Milan Skriniar
Milan Skriniar is a player who excelled under Conte at Inter Milan and unsurprisingly, was then linked with Spurs once the Italian took over. The 27-year-old would be an amazing addition to any team. He’s valued at £58.5m by Transfermarkt and scored four goals last season with no assists.
Skriniar’s 92.9% pass success rate was the highest in the whole Inter Milan squad and combined with his amazing passing range, it’s clear to see that he is in the elite bracket when it comes to ball-playing centre-backs. He also likes to bring the ball out of defence and move up the pitch. A rock in defence, he has no errors leading to a goal.
The Slovakian is good physically which would make him a great addition to the Tottenham defence. Aerial ability is another good quality; he won 50% of his aerial duels last campaign. Combined, interceptions and tackles total 72, showing he is a really good mix of your modern, ball-playing centre-back who also has good defensive attributes.
Josko Gvardiol
Soccer Football – Champions League – Group A – RB Leipzig v Manchester City – Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany – December 7, 2021 Manchester City’s Jack Grealish with RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol after the match REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
Gvardiol is a typical, modern centre-back valued and valued at £31.5m, may have come cheaper than Skriniar. Religiously linked with Spurs this summer, the Croat’s ball-playing and carrying abilities are superb. He has an assertiveness on the ball combined with good one-on-one defending. His passing ability comes into play when pushing up the pitch and breaking midfield lines. He achieved two goals and three assists across all competitions.
Compared to proven Premier League player Antonio Rudiger, Gvardiol would certainly be an asset to Spurs and the League.
Physicality is an attribute, perfected during his time playing in the very physical Croatian top-flight at Dinamo Zagreb.
He’s also a pacey centre-back, hitting a top speed of 21 miles per hour. This mix of superb physicality and pace means strikers find it difficult to pass him. Gvardiol has the potential to be the next big-name defender, as he’s capable of dealing with all types of striker, including standing up to the physicality of Erling Haaland and Dusan Vlahovic and dealing with the pace and trickery of Darwin Nunez and Kylian Mbappe.
He’s won 89 of his aerial duels and 47 tackles and could also operate as a defensive midfielder due to his extensive passing range, physicality and defensive attributes. He’s the perfect player for any team.
Stefan de Vrij
De Vrij was another favourite of Conte at Inter. With his contract running down, his transfer value has deteriorated which has put Spurs on red alert. The Dutchman won 116 of his aerial duels last season which was the second most in the Inter Milan squad. His passing is amazing with a 91.8% completion rate, although his actual range is limited. He would fit a team like Man City incredibly because of his short and mid-range passing.
De Vrij doesn’t have the best defensive skills; which could be a huge flaw in the Premier League. Compared to current Spurs centre-back Cristian Romero, he lacks in nearly every department except passing. Romero’s completed 24 more tackles and 1 more interception than de Vrij.
The 29-year-old managed no goal contributions last season which is quite underwhelming news for Spurs fans. He’s also conceded three yellow cards and is particularly good at keeping hold of the ball.
Best fit ranking for Spurs and the Premier League:
1. Josko Gvardiol
2. Bremer
3. Milan Skriniar
4. Clement Lenglet
5. Stefan De Vrij
Although Lenglet has joined Spurs next season on loan, Barcelona may well let him go cheaply after the temporary period ends. This loan will be a commitment-free opportunity for Conte to see whether he can transform Lenglet’s form by demanding more of him and increasing his game time.
The Frenchman’s left-foot dominance will complement Romero’s right-foot play but pivotally, will Lenglet be able to improve his consistency and awareness in defence to become a challenge for the Premier League’s formidable right-wingers, including Mo Salah and Bukayo Saka?
With the support and leadership of fellow Frenchman and Spurs Captain – Hugo Lloris – Conte must believe they have a strong chance. Barca urgently need to sell players in order to ease their financial troubles and may have to reduce players’ asking prices. With that in mind, if Conte can make a success of Lenglet next season, Spurs could bag themselves a bargain the following season.
Before the signing of Lenglet, it felt as though Tottenham were most likely sign Inter centre-back Stefan de Vrij as we knew Conte wanted him and that de Vrij wanted a reunion with his former manager. One big problem with De Vrij joining Spurs would have been that both he and Romero are right-foot dominant centre-backs; meaning one of them would need to play outside their comfort zone, impacting performance.
The Dutchman also lacks pace which is a huge negative in one-on-one contests with modern strikers. It’s good to see Spurs rising above Conte’s professional connections and resisting De Vrij.
In our opinion, Gvardiol is the best fit for the Spurs backline. He would complement Romero tremendously well because they play with opposite feet. At only 20 the young Croatian is making waves in the football world and thus, this is a transfer that may be more likely to happen in a couple of years time when RB Leipzig could cash in for a huge fee.
Skriniar has some excellent qualities but he isn’t the best fit for Spurs – he wouldn’t work well with Tottenham centre-back Romero as they are both right-footed and his transfer price is significant.
Skriniar is an accomplished player with an impressive passing range whether it’s over a couple of yards or half the pitch. He makes good use of this with his 6 foot 1 height advantage – all his league goals were headers last season, making him a threat from corners. This style of play would fit well with the possession tactics of Pep Guardiola or Erik ten Hag.
Bremer is a true warrior, someone who isn’t afraid to get stuck in or sacrifice himself for the team, similarly to the aforementioned Romero. These are the qualities of a Premier League-level centre-back who could excel in a move to a top-flight Premier League team. After the success of the Argentine’s move from the Italian top-flight, Spurs could have had the duo as the future stars of their defence.
To sum things up, it would appear that Spurs haven’t yet made a decision on their next centre-back, only postponed it until next year as they hunt for a longer-term solution than Lenglet. There are some fine players among the other contenders and there is hope that one day, supporters will enjoy watching Gvardiol and Bremer in the Premier League.
Everton have reportedly made contact regarding a move for Burnley forward Maxwel Cornet, with the Toffees in dire need of new reinforcements this summer.
What’s the word?
As per BBC journalist Fraser Fletcher, the Merseysiders are believed to be among a handful of Premier League clubs who are “in talks” to sign the 25-year-old in the current transfer window. The player is believed to be available for a fee in the region of £17.5m, owing to a release clause in his existing deal at Turf Moor.
Writing on Twitter about the race to sign the Ivorian gem, the transfer insider noted: “Maxwel Cornet future will be decided this week I’m told, he will leave Burnley. Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Everton and 1 more unnamed club are in talks for the Burnley player, All pushing hard and keen on securing, best offer wins”.
As Fletcher mentioned, it would appear that the former Lyon man is set to move on from the Clarets following their recent drop into the second tier, having only arrived in Lancashire in a £12.9m deal last summer.
Supporters will love it
Following the club’s dramatic escape from relegation on the penultimate day of last season, the hope among Everton supporters would have been to see significant investment made in the playing squad this summer in order to avoid another relegation dogfight next term.
Alas, at present it would appear that Frank Lampard’s side have only been weakened by the £60m departure of former talisman Richarlison to Tottenham Hotspur, while the club’s solitary incoming at Goodison Park has been that of experienced centre-back James Tarkowski on a free transfer.
However, reports that the 29-year-old could be joined at the club by former team-mate Cornet should raise the excitement levels among the Everton faithful, with the £13.5m-rated man seemingly the type of player who can make an instant impact next season.
The £44k-per-week speedster offers undoubted quality in the final third, having chipped in with nine goals and one assist in his 26 Premier League outings last term, notably providing a goal and an assist against Lampard and co in the 3-2 victory for Burnley in April.
While largely deployed as an attacking left-back during his previous spell in France, the 25-cap machine proved himself a real menace in a centre-forward role under both Sean Dyche and Mike Jackson last term, having also shown his ability to feature on either flank.
That versatility will help to ease the blow of the departure of the aforementioned Richarlison, with the Toffees in need of another dynamic attacking presence who can feature all across the front line.
Indeed, the club appear to be in desperate need of additional quality, with their recent 4-0 defeat to MLS outfit Minnesota United in pre-season showcasing that an improvement upon last term is not a guarantee, as the threat of relegation remains a distinct possibility.
In truth, what will most please supporters about the potential Cornet deal will simply be that the club are making moves to strengthen, having been frustratingly inactive in the summer market thus far.
AND in other news – “We hear…”: Journalist drops major transfer update on £30m Everton target, it’s bad news
A move to bring Youri Tielemans to Arsenal is reportedly now ‘very possible’, and Leicester City are expecting an offer to be made ‘soon’.
The Lowdown: Tielemans linked
Tielemans has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium throughout the window, and with the new season starting on Friday night away at Crystal Palace, Mikel Arteta’s team could now act on their interest.
They have had to reduce their squad size down in order to fit potential new signings in, with Bernd Leno recently departing for Fulham, while Lucas Torreira and Pablo Mari also look to be on their way out.
The Latest: Offer expected
Taking to Twitter, CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that the Foxes are expecting an offer for Tielemans ‘soon’, and a move to North London is now ‘very possible’:
“Leicester also expect an offer soon for Youri Tielemans. An Arsenal move still very possible despite the lack of offer to date. It’s £30m Leicester now need. Tielemans wants the uncertainty over his future resolved. #MUFC also still interested.”
The Verdict: Get it done
Given that the Gunners now know how much Tielemans would cost, and that there is other interest from the likes of Manchester United, they need to make sure that they get this deal done.
Hailed as ‘outstanding’ by his manager Brendan Rodgers, the central midfielder managed a handy six goals and four assists in the Premier League last season, picking up three man-of-the-match awards and establishing himself as one of Leicester’s key players (WhoScored).
Given that he is currently rated at £49.5m by Transfermarkt, picking up the 25-year-old for a mere £30m would be a real coup, and would really elevate AFC’s chances of finishing in the top four this term.
West Ham United defender Issa Diop is set to undergo medical tests ahead of his Premier League switch to newly-promoted London rivals Fulham, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano reported at 3am on Tuesday morning.
The Lowdown: Diop’s season
Having fallen out of favour under manager David Moyes for the first 14 game weeks of the 2021/22 league campaign, the 25-year-old was suddenly called to action when the Hammers suffered a crisis at the back.
Angelo Ogbonna sustained a cruciate ligament rupture, ruling him out for the rest of the season, whilst Kurt Zouma suffered from a serious hamstring injury which kept him on the sidelines for seven weeks.
As a result, Diop made 12 Premier League performances, on top of a further seven appearances in the Irons’ sensational Europa League run.
The Latest: Romano’s news
Romano has shared an update on Diop’s future at the London Stadium, after news emerged involving a move away to another top-flight side.
Taking to Twitter, the reliable journalist confirmed overnight:
“Issa Diop will undergo medical tests and then sign as new Fulham player in the morning. Full agreement with West Ham for £15m fee.
“Diop will sign contract until June 2028 with Fulham in the afternoon.”
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The Verdict: Good move for him
Once dubbed a ‘monster’ by Jose Mourinho whilst he was in charge at Manchester United, Diop’s career at the Hammers hasn’t panned out the way he would have hoped despite all his physical attributes.
Since joining the east London outfit in 2018 for a reported £22m club-record fee, the 25-year-old has made 94 top-flight appearances for the Irons. However, he has failed to secure a guaranteed spot in Moyes’ starting XI.
With limited playing time last season and with Nayef Aguerd’s £30m arrival this summer, it appears Diop is falling even further down the pecking order at centre-back.
Therefore, a move to newly-promoted Fulham will ensure more game time for the Frenchman, allowing him to get his career back-on-track and live up to the expectations he brought with him when he first arrived in the Premier League.