Newcastle United are reportedly nonetheless keen on a transfer for Bayer Leverkusen winger, Moussa Diaby, having been closely linked with the Frenchman over the summer season.
What’s the phrase?
Reports within the latest window revealed that the Magpies had abandoned a transfer for the 23-year-old as a results of the Bundesliga facet’s reported £60m valuation, with the Premier League outfit having been cautious of being manipulated into forking out hefty charges and exorbitant wages.
Despite strolling away from any deal a few months in the past, the suggestion now could be that the fleet-footed ahead may once more be a goal when the market re-opens in January, alongside Leicester City talisman, James Maddison.
Transfer insider Dean Jones has now offered his ideas on a potential seize of the France worldwide – who has been omitted from Didier Deschamps’ World Cup squad – with the revered supply suggesting it may very well be a actual coup for these at St James’ Park.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones acknowledged: “I’ve spoken a lot about this. I know for a fact that they do still love Diaby, and it’s no surprise because he’s got that game-changing potential. He’s got something different about him from most players in the Premier League.”
Forget ASM
Eddie Howe and co are more likely to have stored a watchful eye on the teenager’s kind for the reason that shut of the summer season window, with the eight-cap sensation having thrived for his present facet to this point this time period, scoring eight targets and offering 4 assists in simply 22 video games throughout all fronts.
While it has confirmed a difficult begin to the season for the German giants – with Xabi Alonso’s facet languishing in 12th within the desk – Diaby has been one thing of a shining gentle each domestically and in Europe, having netted twice throughout Leverkusen’s Champions League group stage marketing campaign.
That competitors is one which these at Newcastle are themselves seeking to earn a place in subsequent season, with the addition of such a “fearless” expertise with “electrifying speed” – as described by journalist Aaron Stokes – more likely to bolster their probabilities of a top-four berth.
The £31k-per-week gem is not any mere one-season marvel both, together with his general document on the BayArena now standing at 84 purpose contributions in simply 146 video games since his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, having been a really constant drive over the previous couple of years.
That phrase consistency just isn’t one that may be attributed to present Magpies hero, Allan Saint-Maximin, with the explosive ahead having been unable to frequently ship the products within the closing third in latest seasons, with simply 12 targets and 16 assists to his title within the Premier League up to now.
That quite measly tally contains simply one purpose and three assists within the 2022/23 marketing campaign up to now, with injury woes having but once more plagued the 25-year-old this season, after beforehand enduring multiple spells on the sidelines since becoming a member of from Nice simply over three years ago.
The addition of his compatriot – who can function on either flank – may properly see Saint-Maximin slip down the pecking order on the membership, with Diaby in a position to match the mercurial expertise’s breathtaking velocity, however whereas producing the tip product to match.
As Jones alluded to, signing Diaby may properly be a main assertion seize so far as Newcastle are involved, with the one notable sufferer of that transfer more likely to be the membership’s present wing wizard.