Newcastle United look to be set for their most exciting summers in recent memory. Hype around the club is currently at an all-time high with there being plenty of optimism in and around St James' Park.
Having spent big to ensure Premier League survival, Newcastle's new ownership must now look to help the club kick on on the pitch. There has been plenty of speculation surrounding transfer targets, with Newcastle being linked with a host of names.
One of those names is Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby. Diaby's signature would be a real coup for the Magpies. He bagged 13 goals and 12 assists in the Bundesliga this season, helping Leverkusen to a third placed league finish. The 22-year-old has also made five appearances for France too.
READ MORE: Newcastle must cash in on Allan Saint-Maximin this summer if they want to reach Europe
But his signature won't come cheap. A fee mooted around the £40m mark might tempt Leverkusen, but since the winger is under contract till 2025, they are in no hurry to sell.
With that in mind, ChronicleLive takes a look at three players who Newcastle could consider in the event they are unable to sign Diaby.
Jack Harrison
Jack Harrison was one of Leeds United's stand out performers , scoring eight goals in the Premier League to matching his record from last season.
He scored the crucial goal that kept Leeds up on the final day of the season against Brentford, which Newcastle played a pivotal part in given they beat the Whites relegation rivals Burnley 2-1.
Harrison is a left-footed out and out winger. While he has mainly operated off the left for Leeds, he is comfortable playing on the right. Newcastle are also monitoring Harrison too, with the Telegraph's Luke Edwards reporting the Magpies are keen on adding the winger to their ranks.
The 25-year-old was understood to have a relegation release fee clause in his contract which is now a moot point given Leeds' survival. He won't come cheap but given Leeds' lack of depth in certain areas, Newcastle could test their resolve with a reasonable offer.
Maxwel Cornet
Burnley's Maxwel Cornet could be another name Newcastle consider. Relegated with the Clarets by Newcastle, Cornet bagged himself nine goals in 26 appearance in the Premier League this season.
One of those goals came against Newcastle at Turf Moor in their final day clash which was ultimately not enough to help Burnley beat the drop.
With Burnley now in a position where they will need to sell in order to repay a £65m loan repayment, the 25-year-old could be available at a cut rate price. While the Clarets signed him for an estimated £12m on a five-year-deal, their dire financial situation could prompt a firesale at Turf Moor, with Cornet one of the players teams will look to target.
Adama Traore
Wolves winger Adama Traore would bring a different threat to both Cornet and Harrison. Known for his rapid pace and dynamic dribbling, Traore spent the second half of last season at Barcelona on loan.
He hit the ground running back with his former club, but his performances soon slowed down. The Catalan club had a reported £29m option to sign the Spanish international to a permanent deal which they will almost certainly not take up now.
Traore will return to Molineux following his loan spell and could be available at a cut rate price. His contract expires in 2023 next summer, meaning Wolves will want to cash in if they have no plans to keep him.
While consistency and end product have always been question marks that surround the 26-year-old, he is unplayable on his day. His combination of strength, size and speed is not something many professional footballers could ever achieve making Traore unique.
If Newcastle could harness regularly consistent performances from the Spanish winger, a front three coupled with Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson could be a frightening prospect.
