BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - September 13, 2022. Bayer Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby in action with Atletico Madrid's Reinildo Mandava.
BBC journalist Harry de Cosemo has claimed on the True Faith podcast that Newcastle United could go back in for Moussa Diaby if they fail in landing Anthony Gordon.
The Lowdown: Newcastle keen on a new winger
While the form of Miguel Almiron during the first half of the season helped paper over the cracks at Newcastle his goals have since dried up and now they are struggling to score and win games in the Premier League.
The Magpies have scored one goal in their last four league games winning that match 1-0 and drawing the rest 0-0, which has seen them turn to Gordon, although he indeed only has three strikes this term.
It has been reported that Gordon’s price tag is causing negotiations to go a lot slower than perhaps planned with Everton wanting a hefty fee for one of their academy graduates and if they continue to stall on agreeing a deal, Newcastle may wait until the summer to sign a new wide man in the form of Diaby.
The Latest: Diaby could come back on the radar
Newcastle were heavily linked with Diaby over the summer but his price tag was deemed too hefty and De Cosemo wouldn’t be surprised if PIF moved again for the Frenchman over the summer if their pursuit of Gordon is unsuccessful.
He said: (£2:15) “I think Moussa Diaby is still somebody – if Newcastle don’t get Gordon – Moussa Diaby in the summer is still somebody to watch to see where that goes because they just ran into a dead end where Leverkusen didn’t need to sell, didn’t want to sell and weren’t willing to negotiate on something silly like €100 million or just less than that but it was crazy money he wasn’t worth.”
The verdict: PIF could avoid rash spending this month
While Gordon would indeed arrive with Premier League experience and be fairly comfortable with the league and style of play, Diaby is very much proven in the attacking department with 44 goal involvements since the start of last season, whereas Gordon has 10.
It was reported earlier in the month when Arsenal were said to be keen on landing Diaby that Leverkusen had not lowered their mammoth asking price as they looked to keep the winger until the summer at least.
However, come the summer he will have two years left on his contract and Leverkusen won’t be able to offer him European football, something that Newcastle very likely will be able to do a better value-for-money deal could indeed be done if PIF wait just a few months for someone with a better record in front of goal and has been hailed as ‘speedy‘ which would suit Newcastle’s style of play and pressing.
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