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Manchester United are interested in signing West Ham United defender Issa Diop this summer, according to Sky Sports.

What's the story?

One of the obvious improvements the Red Devils can make ahead of the new season is in defence, with last season's team conceding more goals than any other side in the English Premier League top six.

Sky Sports reckon one player they are looking at is West Ham star Diop.

The outlet report that United are ready to spend £45m plus offer a player to land the 22-year-old after an impressive debut season in English football.

Watch a Man Utd fan's epic Ed Woodward rant in the video below...

A viable option?

With recent reports rating other United targets such as a Harry Maguire at £80m, it's clear that value will be hard to find in the open market when it comes to defenders this summer.

A fee of £45m for Diop, plus an unwanted player, does seem reasonable though when you consider his impressive form last season as a top-flight regular and the fact he is still just 22 years of age.

If the best defenders in the world are not available to United this summer then it makes perfect sense to invest in potential at a lower cost that shell out over the odds for a player like Maguire.

It both fits Solskjaer's vision of building a young, exciting team and allows him to develop raw talent into the kind of player that he feels Man United need to return as a big force in English football.