Report: Fulham have agreed terms to sign ‘really good player’, but £14m bid fails

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Issa Diop could still end up at Fulham with Premier League and London rivals West Ham United now agreeing to accept a fee of around £18 million, as reported by FootMercato. 

Three simple words all it took to send the rumour mill into a spin once again. 

“Issa was unavailable.” That was all West Ham coach Billy McKinlay had to say when asked why Diop was nowhere to be seen during the 1-1 pre-season draw with Championship outfit Luton Town on Saturday afternoon (Sky Sports). 

There was to be no elaboration. No explanation. Was Diop injured? Was he on the verge of leaving the London Stadium for good?  

Reports from France suggesting that a move across the capital is back on the cards certainly suggest that there’s some truth to the latter.  

Are Fulham closing in on West Ham United’s Issa Diop?

According to FootMercato, West Ham and Fulham reached an agreement over the transfer of Diop last week. That was before Nayef Aguerd’s most ill-timed of injury blows put a stop to those negotiations.

Well, we say ‘stop’. Perhaps ‘pause’ is a more fitting description. 

Because West Ham have reportedly pressed ‘play’ again, and are now awaiting an initial £15 million bid from Diop, one that could rise to £18 million with bonuses. Fulham’s opening bid for the one-time Toulouse skipper was a total fee of £15 million, add-ons included. 

Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

Does this mean Aguerd’s injury is not quite as serious as first feared? Or perhaps West Ham expect to bring in another central defender; One who could fill in for Aguerd while freeing up Diop to depart with just 12 months remaining on his claret and blue contract. 

“I think Issa is a really good player,” David Moyes said back in February, before highlighting why Diop remains a source of frustration for many a West Ham supporter. 

“His form has been a little bit up and down but I think there are some reasons for that. We like Issa, we really do. 

“We think Issa has… I was going to say potential but we feel because he has been here that long we feel his potential should be out and he should be showing it and maturing with it.” 

Diop, now 25, hasn’t really kicked on from an excellent debut season at West Ham. Perhaps a fresh start, and more regular football at Fulham, could be the thing he needs to realise that potential at last. 

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