Issa Diop has been a regualr member of West Ham since his arrival (Getty Images)
According to TEAMtalk (h/t Liverpool Echo), Everton are interested in West Ham United defender Issa Diop.
The Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti is on the lookout for new defensive reinforcements ahead of next season after their dismal show in the league this time out (h/t Liverpool Echo).
A weak and inconsistent defence has seen Everton concede as many as 46 goals in 29 matches, leading them to slip to a lowly 12th in the league standings. Given their current form in the league, Ancelotti needs to bring in a new defender to better his side’s performance next season.
That said, West Ham centre-back Issa Diop has emerged as one of their potential targets for the upcoming summer transfer window (h/t Liverpool Echo). Diop has been a mainstay in the Hammers defence since his £22m move from Toulouse in the summer of 2018.
Despite his side’s poor performance in the league this season, Diop has emerged as one of the side’s most consistent players with 23 league appearances. The 23-year-old has featured in five of their overall seven wins in the league this season, thus signifying his worth in David Moyes’ side.
Diop had a breakthrough campaign in his maiden season itself featuring in 33 of their 38 league games under former boss Manuel Pellegrini. His rock-solid displays at the back saw the Hammers finish a decent tenth in the league last season.
West Ham managed seven clean sheets with him on the field last season, while this year they have managed four so far.
Meanwhile, Everton really need one more defender in their mix to add more depth to their struggling defence. They now have just three defenders – Michael Keane, Yerry Mina and the young Mason Holgate in their side.
Except for Holgate, seasoned campaigners Keane and Mina have failed to impress with poor form and inconsistencies affecting their performance. Holgate, on the other hand, has grown in stature and has nailed down a spot in the first-team.
However, Everton’s dearth of an established defender is a major cause of concern that needs to be addressed if the club does not wish to drop into the relegation zone as they had earlier in the season. And signing Diop would be a step in the right direction by Everton.
Everton’s lack of consistency in the back means they need a reliable player like Diop in their ranks. Having proven his potential already with the Hammers, it would not take Diop much time to adjust to the new surroundings in Goodison Park. Also, his arrival would offer boss Ancelotti increased options in an Everton defence that has struggled this season.
