Newcastle are said to be interested in a move to sign Issa Diop from the Hammers in the January transfer window, according to a new report in France from Foot Mercato, but a deal looks nigh-on impossible.

The centre-back is being linked with a number of clubs ahead of the window opening, with both AC Milan and Watford said to be keeping tabs on his situation at the London Stadium but it just doesn’t make any sense at this point.

Newcastle are also said to be interested but him departing would leave the club with just one fit central defender in Craig Dawson, with both Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna on the treatment table.

Zouma could well be back by the end of January but Diop is not going to be sold in these circumstances.

Were everyone fit, the Hammers may well be looking to snap the hands off any suitors for Diop, whose stock has fallen, but he is desperately needed at this point, with just him and Craig Dawson the fit centre-backs at the club.

We know that David Moyes is desperate to sign a new defender in January as opposed to selling one in the winter window and Diop moving just cannot happen.

He has made five Premier League appearances this season but he has slipped down the pecking order since the signing of Kurt Zouma from Chelsea and there is a faint possibility that he could go in the summer if everyone is back fit, but January is absolutely a no-go.