Issa Diop’s proposed move to Fulham looks to be on the ropes.
It was revealed by RMC Sport journalist Loic Tanzi last week that the centre-back was on the verge of a €20m switch to Fulham following the arrival of Nayef Ageurd.
Aguerd’s arrival from Rennes paved the way for a potential exit for one of the club’s other central defenders, with Diop seemingly at the bottom of Moyes’ pecking order in that position.
But now it appears Moyes may have had a change of heart regarding Moyes’ future in east London.
Tanzi tweeted an update to the deal on Thursday morning, claiming West Ham have asked to stop proceedings regarding Diop’s move to West London, despite supposedly telling Diop he was his fifth choice centre-back this season.
He tweeted: “While he was very close, the finalization of the transfer of Issa Diop to Fulham is long.
“West Ham has asked to stop everything for the moment because David Moyes wants to wait, even if he announced to the Frenchman that he was No.5 in the hierarchy.”
Diop has featured in two pre-season fixtures this summer, coming on as a second-half substitute against Servette last Friday before playing 90 minutes in the Hammers’ 1-1 draw with Boreham Wood on Tuesday evening.
His inclusion in the latter game had raised some eyebrows amongst fans, who were expecting Diop to be sold imminently on the back of Tanzi’s revelation last week.
With Aji Alese coming through the academy and impressing Moyes and his coaching staff over the last year, no least during the first few weeks of this summer, it’s difficult to really know what Moyes has seen in Diop that may have changed his mind.
Alors qu’il était tout proche, la finalisation du transfert d’Issa Diop à Fulham est longue. West Ham a demandé à tout stopper pour l’instant car David Moyes souhaite attendre, même s’il a annoncé au Francais qu’il était N.5 dans la hiérarchie https://t.co/adVUtN93Mn
— Loïc Tanzi (@Tanziloic) July 14, 2022
Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd, Angelo Ogboona and Craig Dawson are all ahead of Diop in the pecking order, with Alese potentially battling it out with the Frenchman was that 5th spot.
But perhaps, with a long season that could have over 50 fixtures to play over the course of the next nine months, Moyes is keeping squad depth in mind. Especially after the defensive crisis of last season, which saw Ogbonna and Zouma ruled out for long periods and Dawson suspended at one point, too.
This is certainly one to watch as the days and weeks go on. Will we be seeing the end of Diop’s time at London Stadium, or has he earned himself another chance to prove himself in claret and blue?
