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According to BBC Sport journalist Simon Stone, West Ham United have ‘no interest’ in selling Issa Diop in this summer’s transfer window.
What’s the word, then?
Sky Sports News recently claimed that Manchester United wanted to sign Diop ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.
And ExWHUemployee has said that United had offered Phil Jones as part of their bid to acquire the former Toulouse youngster this summer.
According to Stone, though, the Hammers are simply not interested in selling Diop ahead of the new season, to United or indeed ‘anyone else’.
And that is absolutely the right stance from the capital outfit, who must keep hold of their key players if they are to move forward next season.
It is shaping up to be a very interesting transfer window for Manuel Pellegrini’s side, with the signature of Pablo Fornals from Villarreal already secured.
Losing Diop would be a huge blow but Stone has provided an update which will surely please the West Ham fans.
Why are West Ham right to hold firm?
It is going to be difficult for the top six to be broken up next season but the fight for seventh during the 2019-20 campaign should be absolutely fascinating.
Wolverhampton Wanderers were the ‘best of the rest’ last season, ultimately finishing nine points off sixth-placed Man United.
West Ham were down in 10th, just five points adrift of Nuno Santo’s men.
And with the right transfer window there is no question that the Hammers can claim a top-seven finish next term.
The capital outfit will find it difficult to resist interest from United if a huge bid were to arrive for Diop in the latter stages of the transfer window.
West Ham are trying to build something substantial, though, and keeping hold of a 22-year-old who only looks set get better and better is absolutely vital to their chances of success.
