Newcastle eye swoop for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby

Newcastle want to add Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby to their attack next season and have made enquiries over a deal for the France international.

Diaby, 22, is high on the list of transfer targets for Eddie Howe this summer after three seasons with Leverkusen where he has helped his club qualify for the Champions League and been called up for his country.

Leverkusen are not expected to allow Diaby to leave cheaply and his market value places him well above the £40 million bracket of players. He has a long-term contract at BayArena, until 2025, meaning his club can negotiate a substantial fee.

But he would still represent good value for Newcastle as they look to lower the age profile of their signings. After arriving in Bundesliga in 2019 as a teenager, he has swiftly established himself as a key player for Leverkusen.

Newcastle spoke to Leverkusen in the January window over a deal for Mitchel Bakker but the Germans could not find a replacement for the Dutch left-back, so attention was switched to a loan deal for Matt Targett, who was a success at St James’ Park during his loan spell.

Howe has been targeting a wide forward for next season to build on his work in the second half of the campaign, with Raphinha’s situation also monitored but now unlikely after he helped Leeds United survive on the final day of the campaign.

Targets from abroad have moved up the list at Newcastle as domestic players have been met with high asking prices. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jack Harrison are among the wanted players but their clubs want to maximise the fees received.

Newcastle had tried to sign Reims striker Hugo Ekitike in January, with a package of €22m plus €6m add-ons agreed before the player opted against a move to the Premier League, with the club looking again at the foreign market.