Newcastle United are reportedly unwilling to match Bayer Leverkusen’s £60 million valuation of tricky French winger Moussa Diaby.
According to Daily Telegraph, Newcastle United are not ready to meet the £60 million asking price for Bayer Leverkusen and French attacker Moussa Diaby this summer. But the club’s hierarchy have made it clear they will not give up in their pursuit of their priority attacking target despite being frustrated due to the lack of progress.
The report adds that the Bundesliga outfit will not entertain any bid less than £60 million, resulting in a deadlock in discussions between both clubs. This comes after widespread suggestions that the Newcastle have extensively scouted Diaby and are ready to break their transfer record to bring him to St. James’ Park.
Newcastle’s current transfer record stands at £40 million when they brought in Joelinton from another German outfit, Hoffenheim. And even though they are prepared to break that, they would still need Bayer Leverkusen to lower their demands for the Frenchman due to the big gap between the two valuations.
Newcastle have already completed three permanent signings this summer, but none of them are the marquee attacking additions that fans are crying out for, with Eddie Howe also determined to add firepower to his ranks.
Despite missing almost half the season, Callum Wilson finished as the club’s top scorer with just eight Premier League goals. And Howe knows he needs more output in the final third if the Magpies are to push for European places. Bayer Leverkusen forward Diaby has emerged as the key target after the move for Hugo Ekitike fell through owing to the player’s agent’s demands.
However, Bayer Leverkusen have slapped a £60 million price tag on Diaby, which seems to have fended off several suitors, with Newcastle being one of them, at least for the time being. The Magpies are not keen on spending that much on an individual player until more revenue streams through lucrative sponsorship deals are created.
From Die Werkself’s perspective, it is understandable why they do not want to lose one of their most prized assets ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, as they strive to build on their impressive third-place finish after securing the return of UEFA Champions League football.
Regarded as one of the Bundesliga’s finest up-and-coming talents, Diaby was at the heart of that feat. He registered an impressive 17 goals and 14 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions to catch the eye of the ambitious Newcastle United, among other potential suitors and the 22-year-old’s boyhood club Paris Saint-Germain.
Furthermore, it is also unlikely that the player would push for an exit at the moment, as he is eager to play in the Champions League. While Newcastle have yet to completely give up on their hopes of signing the French international, they have started looking at alternatives going by their recent links with Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi and Everton’s Anthony Gordon.
Earlier in the window, Newcastle’s determination paid off to bring in long-term defensive target Sven Botman from Lille. It appears that they are taking a similar route in Diaby’s pursuit, but whether their persistence will bear fruit remains to be seen.
Go for Neto, who is same level as Arsenal ‘s Gabriel Martinelli with very good dribble, shooting , pass the ball in the air with accuracy. Though he is Portuguese but style same as South America with good technique. I think no need too expensive since Wolves are willing sell player very much !?