Toon eyeing West Ham defender if moves for five other targets fail – The Athletic

The Athletic have revealed a host of names being considered by Newcastle United in our search for a few new centre-backs.

They claim that leading targets include Lille’s Sven Botman, Burnley’s James Tarkowski, Man City’s Nathan Ake, Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly and Tottenham’s Joe Rodon, however the piece also includes an interest line on Issa Diop.

They report that we enquired about the West Ham defender over the summer and see him as a ‘back-up option’ this month should moves for all of the above fail to materialise.

Diop failed to feature in any of the Hammers’ opening 14 league games, but has started in each of their last six after injuries to first choice pairing Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna.

It therefore seems unlikely that David Moyes would allow the 6ft 4′ Frenchman to leave, however there has been some talk of him being moved on this winter, with West Ham in the market for new centre-backs.

The 24-year-old is a former France U21 international, arriving from Toulouse in a deal worth £22.5m back in July 2018.

It seems we’d have to miss out on a long list of targets to turn back to Diop, but with Lille, Man City and Burnley all reluctant to allow the likes of Botman, Ake and Tarkowksi leave this month, the Irons defender could be one to keep an eye on?

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

One thought on “Toon eyeing West Ham defender if moves for five other targets fail – The Athletic

  1. Personally my first choice pairing would be Ake and Gomez, but Botman or Umtiti on the left and Sule tarkowski or Luiz Felipe would all be decent on the right

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