Bundesliga star ‘sets deadline’ to resolve future amid Newcastle United ‘interest’ and £43m Aston Villa bid

Moussa Diaby is a long-standing target for Newcastle United with their interest in the Frenchman first emerging last summer. On that occasion, they were priced-out of a move by Bayer Leverkusen as Diaby stayed at the German side and once again impressed, notching nine goals and nine assists in the league last term. 

That form has piqued the interest of Aston Villa and Al-Nassr this summer with both teams reportedly submitting bids for the Frenchman. Although the Magpies have been credited with an interest in Diaby again this summer, it appears that Villa and Al-Nassr are currently leading the race for his signature, however, their respective £43m bids still fall short of Leverkusen’s £52m valuation of the 24-year-old.

According to the Mail, Diaby is ‘keen’ for his future to be resolved by the end of the week before the club travels to Austria for a pre-season training camp. The Villains have already confirmed the captures of Pau Torres and Youri Tielemans this summer and are looking to strengthen Unai Emery’s squad further with the addition of Diaby who was at PSG during the Spaniard’s time in charge of the club.

Newcastle’s pursuit of Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes means the Frenchman isn’t regarded as a priority this window - meaning his likely destination will either be Villa Park or Saudi Arabia. Al-Nassr, fresh on the back of securing the signing of Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, could make Diaby the next high-profile name to switch Europe for the Saudi Pro League, however, the club have recently had a transfer ban imposed on them by FIFA as a result of ‘outstanding debts'.