West Ham have demanded Anthony Martial is included in any deal to take Issa Diop to Manchester United, according to the Independent.
It had previously been reported by Sky Sports, that the Red Devils were interested in signing the 22-year-old, offering £45million and a player for the Frenchman.
ExWHUEmployee later added that the player United were proposing to use as bait was Phil Jones, which many people involved with West Ham were far from impressed with.
In their report, the Independent have claimed that United are not willing to let Martial leave as part of the deal.
However, ExWHUEmployee has indicated that the Hammers had a hidden reason for choosing Martial as their target:
We didn’t really expect to get Martial but we have asked for one of their most valuable players as a way of basically saying he isn’t for sale! We knew they wouldn’t do 60m plus marital!
— ExWHUemployee (@ExWHUemployee) June 18, 2019
There is certainly a comedic factor in what can be loosely referred to as transfer business in this case, but the encouraging thing is the West Ham board are seemingly avoiding the advances of a top six side.
There have been numerous incidents in the past, where a big club has targeted one of West Ham’s best players and the move has been tied up pretty easily and quickly.
It doesn’t seem like that will be the case here – unless United throw in Martial anyway.
A selection of Twitter reactions to the dealings, including posts from amused West Ham fans, can be seen below:
how the mighty have fallen, bullied by West Ham haha
— I AM CHADBACCA (@IamChadbacca) June 18, 2019
Exactly the right way to handle this.
Unless he is unhappy it would be a terrible decision to sell him.
The young lad has unlimited potential.— Richard (@Richardod64) June 18, 2019
Love it, husillos what a man
— Daniel_whu (@LloWhu) June 18, 2019
I like this approach. You want one of our best? We will have one of yours. We could usurp Man United this season if we show the ambition now… they’re in a right mess.
— TOM RENNIE (@thomasjrennie) June 18, 2019
Totally agree with this tactic there’s no way they will let us have martial hopefully this will put an end to Their interest in diop
— WHU (@AidenPearceE13) June 18, 2019
— West Ham Latest (@westham_latest) June 18, 2019
Don’t it just show you where we have come over the last 3 years . Let’s hope this puts a message out there that we are in it to win it not to just be a number
— ian (@IANL80s) June 18, 2019
What I really want now is for us to bid £45m +hughill for martial.
— phil trott (@DartmoorLegend) June 18, 2019