West Ham and Everton battling it out for £25m Toulouse starlet Issa Diop
Irons are said to have agreed a deal in principle for 21-year-old defender but Marco Silva is monitoring the situation
WEST HAM and Everton are battling it out for £25million Toulouse starlet Issa Diop, according to reports.
The Irons are said to have an agreement in place for the 21-year-old France-born defender.
But the claim Marco Silva is monitoring the situation closely as he looks to reshape his defence at Goodison Park.
Diop, who has represented France at every level from Under-16s to U21s, operates as a centre-half.
He started his youth career at Balma SC in 2004 but has been with Toulouse since 2006, so far making 85 appearances for the senior side and scoring six goals.
His exploits have certainly not gone unnoticed.
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Arsenal and Tottenham were also said to be interested.
And, given West Ham and Everton's struggles last season, it is a good thing Diop has the stomach for a fight.
He made his Toulouse debut aged 18 with 16-year-old Alphonse Areola behind him in goal.
They combined to save the club from going down on the last day of the 2015/16 season.
WHO ISSA HE? Read the full profile on Issa Diop
His links to Everton do not stop there.
He has formed an effective centre-back partnership with former Toffees target Christopher Jullien.