Newcastle United's search for transfer talent is well under way with the summer market opening its doors later this week. The rumour mill is already furiously spinning as the Magpies begin to be linked with targets from both at home and abroad.
The usual suspects continue to be mentioned in the form of James Maddison and Kieran Tierney. There is also continued speculation over Dominik Szoboszlai, RB Leipzig's main man in midfield, who would attract a fee of around £60m.
More names will emerge from the woodwork in the coming weeks but so far this summer there has been no mention of the man Newcastle really ought to be back in for - Moussa Diaby.
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The Bayer Leverkusen winger, 23, was one of Eddie Howe's top targets last summer as the Bundesliga outfit held firm, holding onto their prized possession before the arrival of new boss Xabi Alonso. Diaby helped himself to 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions in return as his side finished sixth.
His raw pace, incredible power and ability to affect games off the right means Newcastle are not alone in admiring the wide man. Arsenal and PSG continue to sniff around, while another France call-up arrived last month. Leverkusen face a tough task keeping Diaby for another campaign.
"For sure, we want to keep Moussa for as long as possible," Leverkusen director Simon Rolfes told the Daily Express last year. I know a lot of scouts have been sitting on our tribune during our matches because we have a lot of interesting, exciting young players with high potential.
"We did not receive any offers for him but we are not even looking for that at the moment. We wanted to keep him and play Champions League football with him this season."
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12 months on from the failed transfer pursuit, the need for Diaby has lessened on Tyneside. Newcastle's right-wing problem was solved by both Miguel Almiron and Jacob Murphy at different points of last season.
Almiron started the season in blistering form as he enjoyed the mother of all purple patches in front of goal. When the Paraguayan's form dipped after Christmas, Murphy picked up the baton and ended the campaign strongly.
Both men appear to have saved their Newcastle careers under Howe but as Champions League football returns to Tyneside, the Magpies would be foolish not to bolster both their first-team and bench.
A defensive midfielder and a new left-back remain high on the shopping list but purchasing more firepower would give Howe's men a better chance of ensuring last season wasn't a flash in the plan. Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak continue to battle it out for the central role, allowing a chunk of the budget to be splashed on an attacker out wide.
Leverkusen will no doubt dig their heels in once more but the lure of playing at Europe's top table may just entice the player to make a move. Diaby has proved to be a clinical addition to any team at every opportunity and looks to be ready-made for England's top flight. Newcastle could do significantly worse than acquiring his services this summer.
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