Hammer exit surely dead

By Dave Langton

Nayef Aguerd’s injury blow has surely put Issa Diop’s hopes of an exit to bed.

The French defender has been a target for Fulham throughout the summer transfer window.

The two clubs had been in talks over a deal but Aguerd’s injury now means there is surely next to no chance of Diop being allowed to leave.

It would mean that Angelo Ogbonna, Kurt Zouma, and Craig Dawson are the only fit centre-backs at the club were Diop allowed to go through the exit door.

There remains the possibility that boss David Moyes could decide to dip into the transfer market to sign a replacement but that feels incredibly unlikely given that the club’s focus is elsewhere when it comes to incomings.

Gianluca Scamacca is closing in on his move from Sassuolo and the Hammers are also trying to do a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Filip Kostic.

Diop seems certain to remain at the Hammers, as a result, meaning Fulham will surely have to look elsewhere, at least until January.