Chelsea 'to submit £40m bid for Issa Diop'

Chelsea are reportedly on the verge of submitting a £40m bid for West Ham United centre-back Issa Diop.

The 22-year-old has made 48 Premier League appearances for the Hammers since arriving at the London Stadium from Toulouse ahead of the 2017-18 campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur have recently been credited with an interest in the defender, but according to The Express, Chelsea have identified the Frenchman as a leading target during the January transfer window.

The report claims that Frank Lampard's side, having had their FIFA-imposed transfer suspension lifted, are lining up a £40m offer in the hope of convincing West Ham to sell.

The Hammers paid £22m to sign Diop in the summer of 2017, and the former France Under-21 international has a contract at the London Stadium until the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

A move for Diop could allegedly open the door for Andreas Christensen to join AC Milan this month.