West Ham have already bolstered their defensive ranks with the capture of Ryan Fredericks from Fulham but Manuel Pellegrini is eyeing further pieces of business.
The Hammers were leaky at the back last season and the Chilean boss is prioritising the capture of a new centre-back in the coming weeks, leading the club to emerge in the market for a highly-rated defender.
The Mirror (09/06, 18:29pm) state Pellegrini’s side are eyeing the services of Toulouse ace Issa Diop, reportedy rated at £20m by the Ligue 1 side.
Diop has attracted plenty of interest from across Europe this season, with the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Barcelona also attributed with interest in the 21-year-old.
The France U21 international has established himself as a key figure for Toulouse, making 34 appearances in the league last season and scoring three goals.
A move to a side offering European football may appeal to Diop but West Ham are more likely to be able to offer regular first-team opportunities.
