Newcastle United are 20th in the Premier League for goals conceded (42), 19th for clean sheets won (1) and 18th for most shots faced (15.7 per game), so it’s clear Eddie Howe needs to bolster his backline before the winter transfer window shuts.
The Magpies have Jamaal Lascelles, Fabian Schar, Ciaran Clark and Federico Fernandez at their disposal, but the aforementioned quartet are partly to blame for the club’s demise this season. Howe was reportedly looking to sign Issa Diop to solve their problems, but West Ham United may need to keep him. Fans on social media don’t seem to mind, however.
https://twitter.com/AKHAY1000/status/1479739583009017856?s=20 https://twitter.com/ShelvReformed/status/1479480845316542476?s=20
The 24-year-old joined West Ham from Toulouse in 2018 and has gone on to make 109 appearances in all competitions, scoring eight goals with one assist. Diop was a regular in his first two seasons at the Olympic Stadium until 2020/21 saw him fall down the pecking order.
This season, the uncapped Frenchman has made 6/21 Premier League appearances, amassing 540 minutes of playing time from a possible 1980 due to David Moyes preferring Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna at centre-back. Injuries to Zouma and Ogbonna has led to Craig Dawson partnering Diop, however, so it wouldn’t make sense for West Ham to let him leave.
Newcastle reportedly had a chance to sign the 24-year-old for £10m this month, but they may have to turn their attentions elsewhere.
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