OPINION
West Ham are reportedly ready to offer Issa Diop an improved contract that will see him move closer to what top earners Felipe Anderson and Javier Hernandez rake in.
The Metro UK claimed on Wednesday the Hammers are willing to boost the defender’s pay packet in order to stay at the club as he is open to joining Manchester United.
However the outlet pointed out that Diop will not push for a move due to being settled in London.
The Metro also reported that Manchester United saw their first offer for Diop rejected as it was £35million short of the Hammer’s valuation of the centre-back.
So with that in mind, and the fact that the Hammers clearly have no issue rejecting an offer in the region of what Man United are willing to pay, why does Diop need his weekly wage boosted?
After all the Metro even said he wouldn’t force a move, so won’t be a problem, so the Hammers don’t have to needlessly sweeten the pot.
Diop currently earns £67,000-a-week and it would take a significant bump in pay for him to earn close to what Anderson, who earns £85,000-a-week and Javier Hernandez, who earns £140,000-a-week. (Source: Spotrac)
The 22-year-old may have wowed in his debut season at the Hammers in his 2018/19 campaign, he featured 33 times in the league, racking up seven clean sheets and impressively winning 165 of his duels (Source: Premier League), yet is that enough for a pay boost?
Diop’s current contract doesn’t expire until 2023 and he only has one season under his belt at the Hammers, so it’s jumping the gun a bit to throw money at him.
In fact, it’s a risky game for the Hammers to play as if they offer an improved deal to a player just because a team comes sniffing around them, everyone else is going to expect the same.
For example, The Sun reported that Declan Rice is attracting interest from Manchester United and Manchester City, and given that the national newspaper previously claimed he is only on £30,000-a-week, surely if Diop gets a wage boost for attracting Man United so should he?
After all, he played 34 times in the Premier League, helped kept six clean sheets by having a tackle success rate of 61% and even contributed two goals. (Source: Premier League)
If the Hammers offer Diop a wage bump just because Man United want him then it sets a worrying precedent as it could see them improving a player’s wage every time someone comes calling and that will cost them.
