Arsenal enquired about signing West Ham defender Issa Diop a few weeks ago, according to reports in the French media, but the Hammers have slapped a £65m price tag on the 22-year-old.
Fans on Twitter are shocked by the asking price and have asked the club to steer well clear of the centre-back as they seek to strengthen the backline before deadline day:
Are they serious
— Med Wassim (@Wassim91909212) 1 August 2019
Issa rip off
— Hölty (@HighTower_Holt) 1 August 2019
JUST KEEP HIM!!
— AFCentric™ (@AFCentric) 1 August 2019
Nonsense
— Kofi Ken (@_kofiken) 1 August 2019
Pass
— Michael Olatunji (@infomichaelniyi) 1 August 2019
Issa overpriced defender
— Collins (@FillayTunchi) 1 August 2019
I don't know what they are smoking at westham but am sure it ain't good for them, 65mil??
— Princewill?? (@wisegooner) 1 August 2019
a CB i'd like but pic.twitter.com/HnT4ATGmcn
— Marls (@Marly_MarlsT) 1 August 2019
65million y are we buying west ham
— da_king's_kidd (@cnario_) 1 August 2019
Diop has also been linked with a move for Manchester United this summer but the Frenchman’s reported asking price is likely sky-high because West Ham have no intention of selling the defender.
The £72m Arsenal will spend on Nicolas Pepe means their funds will be rather limited as they seek to sign a centre-half before the transfer deadline next week.
A loan move for Juventus defender Daniele Rugani has been suggested while Benfica’s Ruben Dias has also been reported as a possible target, but the club do not look to be close to signing a new centre-back currently.