United see Diop costs soar

West Ham are reported this morning to have told Manchester United they would want around £60 million plus Anthony Martal should they even consider a deal for Issa Diop.

The Independent claim the Old Trafford hierarchy have investigated the possibility of signing the 22-year-old although as ClaretandHugh understands it this has not been by a direct inquiry .

Agents have apparently been in touch with director of football tesing the water but West Ham have so far shown no willingness whatsoever to do a deal of any kind..

And the report adds the Hammers would want a significant cash bid – possibly over £60m – to prise the young Frenchman from the Irons.

ClaretandHugh says: There’s always one big summer story to create a certain amount of alarm where the  Hammers are concerned and the Diop yarn is emerging as this year’s little saga. First it was Declan and his contract, come the winter it was Arnautovic, now it’s the young Frenchman’s turn. Here’s the truth. The Hammers have absolutely no need to sell the central defender and it would indeed take a massive bid of the type  being discussed to give the club pause to think . But the reality is that if Diop is currently worth £60 million – as is being suggested – like Declan he will be worth another £10 million or so this time next year and thus it is very short termism to even consider getting rid. With Martial valued at £50 million we are now talking in terms of Issa being worth £110 million plus extras which makes him a £200k to £250k a week player or around another £40 million over four years. Not sure even  United will go for that on the basis of his one season in the PL so there’s little need for anyone to start worrying at this stage I reckon.