---
title: "Newcastle United: Ashworth looking to sign both Broja and Diaby"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-ashworth-broja-diaby-transfer-gossip-rumours/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ben Goodwin"
section: "Newcastle United News"
published: "2022-07-12T12:10:26Z"
modified: "2022-07-12T13:22:47Z"
---

# Newcastle United: Ashworth looking to sign both Broja and Diaby

**[Newcastle United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/) have a plan in place to complete the exciting double signing of both Armando Broja and Moussa Diaby, reports [The Northern Echo’s Scott Wilson](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/20269851.newcastle-united-everton-latest-club-move-armando-broja/).**

### The Lowdown: Diaby and Broja links

The chase for Diaby has been fairly well documented in recent weeks, with the Magpies identifying the Bayer Leverkusen winger as their [number one target](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/20269851.newcastle-united-everton-latest-club-move-armando-broja/) to reinforce the wide attacking position in Eddie Howe’s squad.

Broja has popped up as a target more recently after the Albania starlet was left out of Chelsea’s pre-season squad, with reports in recent days detailing interest from [Tyneside, Everton and West Ham](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/20269851.newcastle-united-everton-latest-club-move-armando-broja/).

According to Wilson, Dan Ashworth and Co. have now set up a clever plan to secure both signings.

### The Latest: Ashworth’s masterplan

The reporter writes on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/Scottwilsonecho/status/1546423908907323392) that ‘Newcastle want’ to secure a loan-to-buy deal for Broja, thus saving funds to put towards a deal for Diaby.

The France international is valued at £54m by [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/moussa-diaby/profil/spieler/395516), has three years left on his contract at the BayArena and has Champions League football on offer with his current employers, so it’s fair to say Ashworth will need every penny he can get from the Magpies hierarchy in order to get a deal done.

According to Wilson, Newcastle are prepared to pay Chelsea’s loan demands in order to ‘[divert more financial resources](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/20269851.newcastle-united-everton-latest-club-move-armando-broja/)’ and lock up Diaby on a permanent deal.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”398104″\]

### The Verdict: Perfection

While there was plenty of excitement surrounding the arrival of Sven Botman, it’s fair to say this would be Ashworth’s finest work yet. Diaby ranked in the 91st percentile for non-penalty goals amongst attacking midfielders/wingers in Europe’s top five leagues last season, also hitting the 94th percentile for assists ([FBRef](https://fbref.com/en/players/aeed5c06/Moussa-Diaby)).

Dubbed an ‘[amazing player’](https://twitter.com/ftalentscout/status/1360901518673780736?lang=en-GB) by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, the Frenchman would add the end product that his compatriot Allan Saint-Maximin has often lacked from the wing.

Broja meanwhile managed [nine goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/armando-broja/leistungsdaten/spieler/571743) on loan at Southampton last term, a smart return for a player in his first full [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) campaign, drawing praise for his ‘[incredible pace and strength’](https://twitter.com/Blue_Footy/status/1526649241267064832) from Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp.

Valued at nearly £20m by [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/armando-broja/profil/spieler/571743), signing the Blues starlet permanently now would take a massive chunk out of the transfer kitty, so a loan-to-buy deal, delaying the big payments until 2023, could be seen as a true master-class from Ashworth and the owners.