Newcastle United have been linked with a whole host of blockbuster names since the takeover went through 17 months ago and Moussa Diaby is a name that keeps cropping up. The 23-year-old has been the standout performer for Bayer Leverkusen this season and it's easy to see why a number of Europe's top clubs are keeping an eye on his development.
The Magpies and Arsenal have been credited with a move for Diaby in recent months, who's the top goalscorer for Xabi Alonso's side in the Bundesliga this season. The Toon have not hidden their desire to improve their options on the right-wing, but Miguel Almiron's fine form this season has made it an area that isn't a priority.
That could all change in the summer if Newcastle are to secure Champions League football, with Diaby one of Europe's hottest talents. The Magpies know they need to bolster their squad and improve their strength in depth, with the Carabao Cup final a poignant example of the lack of options from the bench.
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The lure of Champions League football, if the Magpies were to secure it, could act as leverage in any Diaby pursuit, but with Leverkusen previously setting an asking price in the region of €100million, there's work to be done. Die Schwarzroten have an uphill battle if they want to compete against Europe's elite, with their best chance of qualifying for the Champions League qualification by winning the Europa League.
Die Werkself are no strangers to European football and they're in the quarter-final of the Europa League where they face Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise. The German side have an easier side to the draw with Juventus and Manchester United on the other half, but remain outsiders to win the competition overall.
Nonetheless, they've improved since the arrival of former Liverpool midfielder Alonso as head coach, who took over the Bundesliga side in October 2022. Diaby made a slow start to the season, which cost him his place in France's World Cup squad in Qatar, but he's shown no sign of disappointment and has forced his way back into the national set-up.
"He's the key man in Leverkusen," Phillip Arens, reporter for German publication Bild, told Chronicle Live when asked about Diaby. "He's the top scorer with eight goals and has a lot of assists.
"He's the second fastest player in the Bundesliga and he played twice for the French national team. Missing out on the World Cup squad was the motivation he needed and Xabi Alonso said he was happy for him.
"It was a big blow to miss out on the World Cup squad. It seems to be the motivation for him and now he's back with the team. It's well deserved and he's the main player for the team.
"Everything happened when Xabi Alonso came. He missed the World Cup because of the bad start he and the team had."
Chelsea's recent spending spree, Manchester United's rebuild under Erik Ten Hag, Pep Guardiola's Man City, Mikel Arteta's youthful Arsenal and rebounding Liverpool and Spurs will present a new challenge for the Magpies next season - a clear warning sign they can's stand still.
Howe has built the reputation as one of the best upcoming coaches in the game and known for thinking outside of the box. He's polished Newcastle into a diamond, but there's plenty room for improvement.
It's been Almiron's best season in a black and white shirt, but there's a lack of goals in his absence from that area of the pitch. So, what would Diaby bring to the side?
"He is the right winger and he's part of a 3-4-3, which is moulded to him I guess," Arens added. "Diaby really developed his scoring, he's so cool in front of goal now.
"He was always a bit nervous when he went close to goal, now he's very effective. He's not missing any chances, he's developed a lot.
"He became a team player in his defensive work and he's not showing frustrations anymore which was a great problem for him. The season before he collected seven yellow cards because he was frustrated and then doing fouls.
"Of course, he was often fouled because nobody could catch him. He's coped with this and it was a huge step in his development."
It's unclear whether the Magpies made an official approach for Diaby last summer, but they moved to sign Alexander Isak in the latter stages of the window, for a similar fee to the French winger's reported asking price. If the Toon do secure Europe, strength in depth will be key to making the challenge for Europe a consistent one.
Arens said: "A move away from Leverkusen depends on the money. He really feels good in Leverkusen and he became a father for the second time some weeks ago.
"He's very happy to be here so let's see what will happen. He's one of the main objects on the transfer market."
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