Aston Villa submit official bid to sign long-term Newcastle United transfer target

Aston Villa have submitted an opening bid for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby, according to reports in France.

Newcastle United have held a long-term interest in the Frenchman after he first popped up on their radar last year. A club-record move was supposedly weighed up before the Magpies recruited Alexander Isak for £60million instead.

Diaby has remained under consideration but Leverkusen’s rumoured £50m asking price has saw United favour a move for Leicester City star Harvey Barnes at a reduced price amid Financial Fair Play restrictions.

With Newcastle set to pass up the opportunity of signing Diaby, French publication L’Equipe via Get French Football claims Premier League rivals Aston Villa have officially made their move by tabling an opening offer. The figure is unspecified.

The 24-year-old is under contract at the Bundesliga club until 2025 but has been told he will be allowed to leave this summer if the price is right.

Diaby scored nine goals and the same number of assists in 33 league games last season. In his 172 matches since joining Bayer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, the winger has an impressive output of 49 goals and 48 assists.

Serie A champions Napoli have shown an interest in Diaby, while PSG have been regularly linked with re-signing him. Diaby, however, reportedly favours a move to the Premier League and Villa are willing to offer him a lucrative salary.