Report: West Ham could lose £67,000-per-week brute Husillos claimed had ‘fantastic potential’

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AC Milan have assessed a potential summer transfer for West Ham United defender Issa Diop, according to Pianeta Milan.

The Rossoneri want to improve Stefano Pioli’s backline after missing out on the Serie A title to Inter Milan last season. The San Siro outfit have already added Fikayo Tomori on a permanent deal but expect Alessio Romagnoli to go.

Milan are yet to receive any substantial offers for Romagnoli but their captain is entering the final year of his contract. They are currently unlikely to present the 26-year-old with new terms, though, after he fell out of favour last season.

Romagnoli is also pushing for a pay rise in any new terms with Milan or at a new club. But the Rossoneri have already begun shortlisting replacements with £67,000-per-week Diop one in mind.

Milan could move for Diop irrespective of Romagnoli’s situation after assessing the defender’s situation at West Ham in recent weeks. The Italian outfit believe he could develop well in their new-look unit next season.

The Rossoneri have also contacted Diop’s representatives to sound out his interest in a move to the San Siro. And they could submit an offer to sign the 24-year-old on loan with an option to buy him next year.

Diop endured a difficult season at West Ham last term, starting just 15 of 18 Premier League games. He also only played 117 minutes between contracting coronavirus in September and Angelo Ogbonna’s high ankle sprain in February.

TBR’s view: West Ham should listen to Milan interest in Diop

West Ham broke their transfer record to sign Diop from Toulouse in 2018 for £22m. Much was expected of him at the time, with the Irons’ former Director of Football Mario Husillos lauding his ‘fantastic potential’ to the club’s website.

He enjoyed a strong first year that Foot Mercato cited an £80m valuation amid interest from Arsenal and Manchester United. But his decline saw West Ham demand £20m from Liverpool this January, per The Athletic.

Diop remained in east London, despite interest from Inter Milan and La Liga, but was unable to show enough to keep his place. David Moyes benched the Frenchman once everyone was available again following Ogbonna’s injury.

West Ham should now listen to what Milan have to offer, as their loan-to-buy bid could be their best chance at securing a high fee for Diop. They paid £25m to sign Tomori after his half-season loan, and could spend similar to keep Diop.