West Ham United have held talks with Manchester United over a money-plus-player bid for defender Issa Diop, according to Sky Sports.
United are prepared to pay £45million plus a player for the 22-year-old but the Red Devils aren’t willing to let the Hammers have the target they have identified, which is reported to be Anthony Martial.
Paris Saint Germain and Barcelona are understood to be monitoring Diop, who is on the verge of being called up France squad, and West Ham want £60m if they are to depart with their star defender.
The Hammers paid Toulouse a club-record fee of £22m for the player last summer and the youngster caught the eye with impressive performances in the Premier League, scoring twice in 26 appearances as the East London side finished in 10th place after an inconsistent start to the campaign.
Diop is believed to be happy at West Ham and has four years left on his current deal at the Olympic Stadium but wants to test himself in the Champions League although the Hammers are contemplating offering the France Under-21 international improved terms to keep him at the club.
Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini has already been active in the transfer market this summer signing two new goalkeepers in Roberto and David Martin while paying £24m for Villarreal midfielder Pablo Fornas.
The Chilean is keen to build and improve on last season’s 10th place finish and his side had a good end to the campaign by winning three out of the last four matches.
Diop is very much part of Pellegrini’s plans going forward but knows every player has their price and United have turned their attention to the defender after being knocked back for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Leicester City’s Harry Maguire.