Newcastle United are reportedly considering making a January move for long-term target Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen.
According to Dean Jones on GIVE ME SPORT, Newcastle United are hoping to be at the front of the queue in the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby but might face stiff competition for the 23-year-old French international’s signature.
The Magpies have secured five signings this summer, with an estimated transfer cost of more than £120 million, but failed to strengthen in wide areas. And it seems that Eddie Howe’s side are aware of the fact, and will be keen to add more firepower to their attacking unit despite signing Alexander Isak in a blockbuster move in the last transfer window.
Newcastle have been strongly linked with Leverkusen’s Diaby earlier this summer, but due to his hefty £55-60 million price tag, the Tyneside outfit decided to drop their pursuit of the Frenchman as they prioritised investing that money in a centre-forward, not a winger.
However, Newcastle may well revisit their interest in the tricky Leverkusen winger in the upcoming winter window, especially after a wasteful start to the season for their current attacking roster. It is safe to say the Magpies’ attack looked toothless in the absence of Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson, despite boasting the lion’s share of possession.
For all of Miguel Almiron’s impeccable work rate and relentlessness to instigate an aggressive press, the 28-year-old has left a lot to be desired in the final third as he has struggled to make an impact at the top end of the pitch from a wide position.
The same goes for other options such as Ryan Fraser and Jacob Murphy, who are both work-horses but lack the quality and decision-making to be that difference-maker to break down the opposition.
So, signing someone of Diaby’s calibre would be a big coup for the Toon, given his 31 direct goal contributions for Leverkusen in the 2021-22 season accounted for more than half of Newcastle’s season goals tally the last term.
The 23-year-old has made a slow start to the ongoing season, scoring just one goal and providing just two assists in all competitions and his dip in form has led to him being dropped from Didier Deschamps’s latest French squad for UEFA Nations League games.
However, that has not dampened the wide interest in him, with rumours circulating that Newcastle, along with Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspurs, Chelsea, and Arsenal, have all sent their scouts to run the rule over the 23-year-old against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last week, where he starred by scoring his side’s second goal as they won 2-0.
Contracted at Bay Arena until 2025, the 23-year-old himself stayed put with Leverkusen last summer as he went with stability ahead of the World Cup despite interest from the Premier League. However, with the club having a poor start to the season, languishing 15th in the Bundesliga table, he could well change his mind come this January.
And Newcastle will certainly hope that they are the frontrunners in the race to secure his signature, having already laid the groundwork for his transfer this summer. It will be interesting to see whether they can fend off the competition from Premier League’s big guns, including Arsenal and Manchester City.