High-flying Newcastle United are reportedly still interested in signing 23-year-old French winger Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen.
According to a report by iNews, Bayer Leverkusen’s tricky winger Moussa Diaby is the subject of interest from Newcastle United over a possible move in the upcoming January transfer window.
Newcastle United have had a strong start to the season, with the Magpies perching sixth in the Premier League table with 14 points from nine games. They were only 20 seconds or so away from remaining unbeaten this season in a contentious 2-1 loss to Liverpool back in August.
The Toon have just recorded successive wins against Fulham and Brentford, and are firing on all cylinders, scoring a whopping nine goals in their last two league games. While it’s still early doors into the season, the talk of challenging for Europe is already starting to heat up.
The team is humming with confidence. Eddie Howe’s side are performing admirably, which is even more impressive considering that they were unable to secure their top targets during the summer transfer window.
And things may be about to get even better for the Toon Army, with iNews reporting that Eddie Howe’s side’s fine start to the season may convince the owners to splash the cash in January if they find themselves in a position to compete for European spots by the World Cup.
The report also reveals that summer targets Moussa Diaby and James Maddison will be pursued once again as they look to bring in reinforcements in midfield and out-wide, with the North-East side now confident of luring both players into their exciting long-term project.
Newcastle United tried and failed to sign Diaby last summer, but their pursuit does not seem to be finished. The 23-year-old French international was apprehensive about making the switch to Tyneside as it would have jeopardised his prospects of flying to Qatar with the French national team as well as playing for Leverkusen in the Champions League.
As it turns out, Leverkusen have had a terrible start to the season, languishing 15th in the German top flight, only two points above the drop zone despite boasting a squad capable of breaking into Champions League spots in the Bundesliga.
Diaby’s individual output has been solid if unspectacular, with 6 goal contributions from 13 appearances across all competitions (2G, 4A), and he could force his way out if Leverkusen’s poor form continues under new boss Xabi Alonso.
While a new right-winger seemed to be essential for the Magpies in the summer and remains so to some extent in order to bring in more quality depth and competition for places, Miguel Almiron’s goal-scoring exploits have made him one of the first names on the team sheet this season.
The Paraguayan has netted four goals from nine outings so far and is playing some of the best football of his Newcastle career. He is also a tireless presser who initiates the Magpies’ dynamic press from the front and a real workhorse, qualities Diaby still has to engrain into his game.
However, Newcastle spent big money on an out-of-form Alexander Isak last summer, so it appears the Magpies are prepared to ignore talent’s current form in favour of quality and a high ceiling. In that way, they can also get the player for a fair value than a premium price.
