If Newcastle United were to sign Moussa Diaby this summer his talent would leave teammates ‘in his wake.’ The 22-year-old French international is among the club’s top targets ahead of the new season.
The winger has spent the last three seasons at Bayern Leverkusen and has attracted interest after impressing. The Magpies are said to be looking at signing the midfielder, and Newcastle United Editor Aaron Stokes believes his arrival would be an instant upgrade on the club’s current options.
Appearing on The Everything is Black and White Podcast, he was asked about the impact Diaby’s move would have on the likes of Ryan Fraser, Jacob Murphy and Miguel Almiron, he said: “It leaves them all in his wake. If he comes in, he is easily one of the first names on the team sheet.
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”Fraser has done very well but we are talking about a step-up here. We're talking about a Scottish international who is in and out of the team going up against a 22-year-old who is knocking on the door of the French squad. It would leave Miggy and Murphy struggling, and Fraser would see his game time dramatically reduced but this is the level that Newcastle United want to go to in the next couple of years.
“What a statement of intent it would be going forward.”
Diaby has made it clear his intentions for Champions League football, and with Leverkusen finishing third in the Bundesliga and therefore securing a path into the Champions League group stage, he has the option to achieve his goal.
Rated as one of the best young wingers in the world, any move would come at quite the cost for Newcastle United - with Leverkusen reluctant to sell their star player. Stokes believes that the deal represents the hardest one of the summer to do.
“This is a player who is going to be talked about as one of France's 'next-generation,' and I do think it will be one of the hardest to do this summer given Leverkusen's stance but what a huge signing it would be and what a statement.
“If they could pull off this Diaby deal it would be a bigger statement than someone like Sven Botman because if you look at what he's done at Leverkusen this season - 13 goals, 13 assists. Unlike Newcastle's current French winger, he's in the French set-up and has earned his place there.
“Leverkusen are absolutely desperate to keep him, their sporting director Simon Rolfes came out a couple of weeks ago and made it clear they really don't want to sell him. They're optimistic he will stay. They've tired down Patrik Schick who has enjoyed such a good relationship with Diaby.
“They are setting their stall out - they want to keep him but if Newcastle manages to prise him for what is looking like a price of at least £55m then what a statement that would be.”
