Manchester United have identified
West Ham defender
Issa Diop as a potential remedy to their centre-back troubles - but one which will come at a price.
United are in the market for a centre-back to partner Victor Lindelof and are desperate to purchase one this summer.
Although Leicester’s Harry Maguire and Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly are targets, Old Trafford chiefs are now testing different waters.
They seem to be near the River Lea, with West Ham centre-half Issa Diop the latest name to be linked to United.
According to Sky Sports, The Red Devils are willing to pay in excess of £45m plus a player for the Frenchman.
West Ham do not want to sell the player, however, and will not listen to offers less than £60m.
Bar Lindelof, who established himself as a first-team regular last campaign, United defenders Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo are dispensable.
Diop enjoyed an impressive first season in East London after joining for £22m, featuring in 33 Premier League games last term.
The 22-year-old formed a solid relationship with Angelo Ogbonna but did concede 55 goals - one more than United, who encountered their worst defensive season in the Premier League.
United have sounded out Diop due to the high fees which Maguire and Koulibaly would garner; Maguire is valued at over £80m by The Foxes while Kouliably would likely cost nine figures.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made clear his intention to sign young, preferably English talent, this summer and is not obsessed with acquiring the finished article.
That was reflected in the Norwegian’s first signing, Daniel James, who joined last week from Swansea.
Ed Woodward has vowed to back his manager, who he handed a three-year contract in March, in the transfer market.