According to Sky Sports News, West Ham United are closing on a deal for Toulouse centre-back Issa Diop, who will cost the Hammers in the region of £22m.

What’s the story?

Diop, who is the captain of France’s Under-21 team, made 37 appearances in all competitions for his French club during the 2017-18 campaign.

According to Sky Sports News, a deal between West Ham and Toulouse has been agreed in principle, with both clubs 0n the verge of making an announcement.

The report adds that Diop will cost the London club in the region of £22m as head coach Manuel Pellegrini makes a huge move to further improve his defence ahead of the new season.

The Hammers have already signed Ryan Fredericks from Fulham this summer, and the deal for Diop, who has previously been linked with Everton, is another signal of intent from the capital outfit.

Is Diop a good signing?

Diop, who is valued at £19.8m by transfermarkt.co.uk, progressed through the youth system at Toulouse before making his first-team debut back in 2015.

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Since then, the centre-back has made 95 appearances for the French outfit – including 34 in Ligue 1 last season, scoring three times in the process.

Diop will not turn 22 until the early stages of 2019, but he is already an extremely experienced first-team player, and is being tipped as a future France international.

Standing at 6ft 4in tall, the youngster is an absolute mountain of a man, and his aerial ability will make him a very important player in both penalty boxes next season.

The Hammers are in desperate need of an injection of youth in a defensive position, and Diop is just about the perfect signing for the London club this summer at a good price.

There is every reason to believe that the Toulouse captain will go on to become a star in the game, and West Ham have seemingly pulled off a huge coup.