Why Issa Diop would be the right man to strengthen Tottenham defence
According to Foot Mercato (h/t Sun), Tottenham are keen on signing West Ham defender Issa Diop, with Jose Mourinho happy to spend up to £53m in the summer.
Diop, 23, came through the ranks of Toulouse’s youth system and established himself as one of the best young defenders in France. His impressive performances earned him a move to London with West Ham in the summer of 2018.
Since then, he has been a regular member of the squad and is one of their best defenders. He was instrumental in the Hammers’ 10th place finish last season, with 6 clean sheets to his name. Being one of the emerging centre-backs in English football, Tottenham should take an opportunity to sign him in the summer.
Spurs have struggled under both Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho this term. Despite reaching the top half of the table, Tottenham have had their own issues. The Portuguese tactician’s era got off a brilliant start but they failed to carry on with the momentum.
Since their Champions League final loss last season, the North Londoners have stooped to low as they lie in the 8th position in the league table. One of the chief reasons for their downfall is the lack of stability in their backline.
Belgian duo Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are both experienced campaigners but have failed to do their best. Colombian international Davinson Sanchez also looks to be out of form and youngster Juan Foyth has seen limited game time.
The defensive unit has shipped in 40 league goals so far, which is the worst defensive record among the top 9 teams in the league standings. Thus, to improve their backline, the manager should look to bring in reinforcements and change their backline for good.
In that case, West Ham centre-back Diop would be a fine solution to Tottenham’s defence as he is in the form of his life at the moment.
Despite the Hammers’ lacklustre performances, Diop has been on top of his game. He has been crucial on several occasions for David Moyes’ side, featuring in 23 games this term. In the process, he has also scored 3 goals for his side.
The Frenchman has some experience in the Premier League and could be a valuable addition to Mourinho’s squad if he is able to replicate the same form. He would undoubtedly add depth and quality to the squad as he has proven himself at West Ham.
Read more
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Verdict
Tottenham are in dire need of a centre-back and Diop would be a perfect fit for the squad. He is just 23 and has a huge future and the North Londoners should make a move for him if they are to do better next season.
