Newcastle have ‘targeted’ 14-goal forward ‘for a year’ – Want to make him ‘one of the faces’ of their project

While the news in Italy about Newcastle United surrounds an interest in Nicolò Barella, in France, it’s all about Moussa Diaby on Friday.

This comes courtesy of L’Equipe, who state the winger is being ‘targeted’ by the Magpies, who have been trying ‘for a year’ to make him ‘one of the faces’ of their project.

If you are a Newcastle fan who has been following the rumour mill ever since the club was taken over, you will know that to be true, as Newcastle have been linked with the Frenchman for a while.

Unfortunately for Eddie Howe, he is an integral part of the project at Bayer Leverkusen, and there have been some rather tall asking prices being thrown about in the media.

That being said, there could come a time when the player, who will have ambitions beyond his current club, tries to leave, and that could be what Newcastle are waiting for.

There is, however, competition from the likes of Arsenal, who are said to have ‘taken the lead’ in these past few weeks in the race to sign him.

With both clubs in next year’s Champions League, it could all depend on who can offer him the better personal project, which is something Newcastle will have to think about.

Diaby scored 14 goals and assisted another 11 in 48 appearances in all competitions last season.