Newcastle United reignite interest in Moussa Diaby

Premier League top-four hopefuls Newcastle United have reportedly rekindled their interest in Bayer Leverkusen speed demon Moussa Diaby.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Magpies are ready to swoop for the 23-year-old forward at the end of the season to bolster the club’s lofty ambitions under the new ownership.

Eddie Howe’s men will enter March’s international break on the periphery of the Premier League top four, two points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur but two games in hand.

With Spurs’ seasonal descending into complete disarray following Antonio Conte’s infamous post-match conference in the wake of a 3-3 draw at Southampton, the Magpies’ bid to reach Champions League qualification has a solid foundation.

After a sluggish start to the new calendar year, Newcastle have hit the ground running again, stitching together consecutive league wins over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest to steady the ship.

But as any ambitious club, they’re already setting out plans for the future, with Diaby emerging as one of Howe’s top priorities heading into the summer transfer window.

The French winger has been one of Leverkusen’s headline performers since moving in from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, registering north of 120 appearances for Die Werkself in all competitions.

Diaby has been an always-present figure in the Germans’ starting line-up this season and has been particularly essential to their Europa League title charge after dropping out of the Champions League group stages.

He has tallied two goals and one assist in four knockout outings to help Leverkusen set up a quarter-final tie against Belgian surprise package Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

But his impressive showings under Xabi Alonso haven’t gone unnoticed.

Newcastle’s fellow Premier League rivals Arsenal have set their sights on Diaby, while his boyhood club PSG also consider the prospect of bringing him back to the Parc des Princes.

Though competition for the Frenchman’s signature looks as fierce as it gets, the Magpies’ financial strength could help them edge out other competitors.