Bundesliga giants ‘ready to talk’ over £50m Newcastle United deal as in-form Arsenal star is considered

Newcastle United could be handed an opportunity to secure a long-term target this summer after reports in Germany suggested Bayer Leverkusen are ‘ready to talk’ over a deal for winger Moussa Diaby.

The former Paris Saint-Germain academy star has been watched by Magpies recruitment staff on several occasions over the last year and there were reports United were going to make an ambitious move to land the France international last summer.

But Diaby remained with Bayer and has continued to shine during what has been a challenging season for his club at domestic and European level. The talented forward has netted 11 goals and provided six assists in 31 appearances in all competitions as his side have laboured in mid-table in the Bundesliga and suffered early exits from the Champions League and German Cup.

Sky Germany journalist Marlon Irlbacher has now given Newcastle some hope they could finally secure a deal for the winger after revealing Bayer would consider allowing him to depart ‘if a fantastic offer comes in” - although he also claimed United would face competition from French giants PSG.

He said: “Moussa Diaby is the hottest personnel at Bayer Leverkusen next to Florian Wirtz. His contract is worth €50m until 2025, so there’s really no reason for Bayer 04 to sell him in the coming summer. But the fact is, and this is what we hear, that if a fantastic offer comes in, then Bayer 04 is ready to talk and he would not mind making a move to a top European club. A return to Paris is on his mind.”

Magpies ‘considering’ move for in-form Arsenal striker

Newcastle have been linked with a move for Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun as he continues to impress during a season-long loan spell with French club Reims.

The 21-year-old frontman has scored 16 goals during 27 appearances in all competitions and currently sits just three goals behind PSG star Kylian Mbappe in the race to become Ligue 1’s top goalscorer. His form under English coach Will Still has played a key role in Reims’ fine run of form that has taken them from struggling at the wrong end of the table to unbeaten in their last 14 games.

Balogun has impressed Gunners manager Mikel Arteta has revealed his delight over the striker’s form in Ligue 1 and described Balogun as ‘incredible’.

“I’m so happy for him,” he said when asked about his form last month. “He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career. He’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave. We discussed a lot before he made that move whether it was the right place to go and the other choices he had. He was so convinced. I’m really happy for him because he deserves what he’s getting.

“When you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it’s just incredible. It’s very rare to see that. But he’s got something special, that’s why we decided to give him a long-term contract and have faith in him and give him the long period that he needs now.”

Journalist Steve Kay has now claimed Newcastle are monitoring the forward’s progress and are ‘considering’ submitting an offer to their Premier League rivals during the summer.