Manchester United may have to pay £60m for new defensive target

Manchester United face the prospect of paying £60m for West Ham centre-back Issa Diop this summer, claims Sky Sports.

With Matthijs de Ligt on course to join Paris Saint-Germain, Issa Diop has emerged as a new transfer target for United alongside Leicester centre-back Harry Maguire.

Diop only joined West Ham last summer but the commanding centre-back has been on United’s radar since the beginning of last season.

Jose Mourinho singled Diop out for praise after the Hammers beat United 3-1 in September and even praised West Ham’s scouting department for finding the Frenchman.

United have kept a vested interested in the 22-year-old ever since and are now interested in prising him away from West Ham.

West Ham paid £22m for Diop last summer but United are reportedly willing to offer £45m and a player in order to prise him away from their Premier League rivals.

It is understood that Phil Jones is the player United are willing to send in the other direction, while Chris Smalling is also an option if preferred.

However, West Ham are determined to keep hold of Diop and will not accept any offers less than £60m for France Under-21 international.

Diop only missed five Premier League matches last season and West Ham lost four of those games and drew the other.