Diop To Palace? What A Giraffe!

When we use the term giraffe in association with Hammers centre back Issa Diop, it is generally a jovial reference to his height and his gait, but we have used it in this article's headline because there are rumours, which first surfaced a couple of weeks ago, that Crystal Palace want to sign Diop, ON LOAN!

There are cheeky bids and there are cheeky bids, Palace's falls into the incredibly cheeky bracket, why on earth would David Moyes want to leave himself with just three centre backs to get through an entire campaign that sees the club competing in FOUR competitions?

Diop is young and with the right encouragement can rediscover the form he showed when he first arrived at the club from Toulouse, Hammers involvement in Europe will surely present the Frenchman with additional playing time, there is also the French connection' that he will have with Kurt Zouma.

Any feelings of warmth David Moyes might have felt towards his London neighbours with regards to transfers will have been doused by Palace taking two points off the Irons last weekend, however even before then it was highly unlikely that he would allow Diop to go out on loan to ANY club in the Barclays Premier League. Palace do have a habit of signing Hammers players, James Tomkins and Cheik Kayoute are both in their matchday squads, these popular fans favourites are still missed by many.

Now is the time for the club to complete it's strengthening in depth ahead of what will be a gruelling season, NOT a time to be releasing players, especially ones with the potential of Issa Diop. - LN