Moussa Diaby has returned to pre-season training with Bayer Leverkusen as the Newcastle United target steps up his preparations for the new campaign.
Newcastle have not given up on signing the France international, who was directly involved in 32 goals last season, but Leverkusen are going to have to lower their demands. Although Leverkusen are open to selling Diaby, and recognise that the forward will leave eventually, the Bundesliga giants want between £55m and £60m for him this summer.
Diaby is well-aware of Newcastle's interest but has not pushed to leave, which partly explains Leverkusen's confidence that the 23-year-old will stay for another season. Diaby, after all, wants to play in the Champions League; has three years left on his contract; and is wary of uprooting and adjusting to a new league and culture so soon before the World Cup starts in November.
READ MORE: Newcastle transfer target Moussa Diaby not ruling out Bayer Leverkusen stay due to two factors
It will fall to Newcastle's owners to sell the same 'project' that has appealed to Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier if the Magpies can manage to find an agreement with Leverkusen. Although Diaby could help Newcastle by expressing a wish to move to St James' Park, the Frenchman's conduct and professionalism gives you an insight into the character of one of the club's top targets.
After undergoing routine tests on Saturday morning, following an end of season break, Diaby travelled to the IMS Arena in Velbert to support his team-mates during Leverkusen's 6-1 win against MSV Duisburg despite not being involved himself. Diaby, who has been front and centre in al of the promotional shots for Leverkusen's new set of kits with Castore, will now fly out with the rest of the squad to Austria for a training camp, which is the same country where Newcastle, coincidentally, are also heading.
Diaby could make his first appearance of pre-season in Leverkusen's friendly against Panathinaikos in Salzburg next Sunday.
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