West Ham have been dealt an unfortunate January transfer blow as it emerged that top target Fikayo Tomori is set to leave the Premier League on loan.
As per talkSPORT, the 22-year-old Chelsea defender and England international has been tipped to join Rennes due to the positive working relationship enjoyed by his club and the Ligue 1 side.
Much like West Ham and fellow suitors Leeds, Rennes are long-time admirers of the player and have been keen to procure his services to offer reinforcement at the back.
According to talkSPORT sources, the deal to bring Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to Stamford Bridge played a key role in Chelsea preferring to deal with Rennes over other parties.
West Ham had previously wrapped up a loan deal for Tomori on deadline day, but the player himself snubbed a move to the Irons.
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Whilst the news is a blow, it is not disastrous for West Ham.
The return of Issa Diop to the team provides another decent centre-back option for David Moyes, dampening the disappointment of missing out on Tomori.
It could prompt a rethink from Moyes as he seeks to re-evaluate his best defensive options, with the manager potentially making his recent reversion to a four-man defensive setup a long-term policy now that Diop is available once more.
It could even go so far as to alter the Hammers’ transfer strategy going into the January winter window as they look to procure other targets. They were recently linked with Lyon veteran Marcelo, who could represent a bargain alternative to Tomori if Moyes still feels he is in need of further reinforcements.
