Opinion from the stands

Diop emerging as West Ham’s signing of the summer

|
Image for Diop emerging as West Ham’s signing of the summer

OPINION

West Ham United defender Issa Diop has arguably been one of the most consistent performers this season since the Irons took a big risk at signing him from Toulouse for a big money fee reported by Sky Sports to be £21.9 million.

He was sidelined for the start of the season by boss Manuel Pellegrini, but he has since emerged as one of the most useful signings that the club have made in recent times, paying off the gamble that was taken by the Hammers.

When you think of a club’s standout signing, it is almost guaranteed that a fan will answer with the name of an attacking player – in this instance, Felipe Anderson.

But that is certainly not the case at West Ham, as Diop – who had less than 100 senior outings to his name before his move – has deservedly received the majority of the plaudits for his displays in this campaign alongside their ever-reliable Fabian Balbuena, despite falling under the radar slightly.

The ace’s unflappable presence in West Ham’s back line has brought a much-needed steadiness to proceedings, not to mention his sometimes overwhelming physicality.

It is safe to say that the two players could not compliment each other better than they already do, and it is encouraging to see the progress they have made after a tricky start.

The match against Manchester United was arguably one of Diop’s breakout displays – the way he kept Romelu Lukaku in his back pocket for the entirety of the fixture was a sight to behold for the West Ham fans.

Diop does not look like he will be losing his place in the starting XI any time soon, and sometimes it is easy to forget that he is only 21-years-old.

If he has tremendous ability at this age, it is a rather scary to think about how he will improve over the next five years or so.

The Daily Mail reported that Paris Saint-Germain were keen on bringing Diop back to France, and to be honest, that should not have come as a shock to many.

The Hammers are going to gather a lot of interest in the young starlet, but that is something that they will come to expect.

Either way, Diop has emerged as West Ham’s best signing of the summer – and there are not many fans who will disagree with that.

Share this article