Arsenal blow as Newcastle ‘prepare’ €60m bid for long-term target; Gunners set Xhaka asking price
According to reports, Newcastle United are ‘preparing’ an offer for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby amid interest from Arsenal and PSG.
The Gunners have been consistently linked with Diaby over the past year and they have re-entered the race to sign him ahead of this summer.
Diaby has been in stunning form for Bayer Leverkusen this season. He has grabbed 14 goals and 11 for the Bundesliga outfit in 44 outings across all competitions.
Arsenal will look to add to their squad this summer ahead of their return to the Champions League. They are also understood to be looking at West Ham’s Declan Rice and Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.
Diaby is Leverkusen’s prized asset and with his contract up in 2025, he may be sold this summer before his valuation starts to decline.
Newcastle have joined Arsenal in the race for Diaby and journalist Christian Falk is reporting that Eddie Howe’s side are ‘gearing up to have another go at signing him’.
The Magpies are said to be ‘preparing an offer of around €60m’ for Diaby.
‘So we’re not quite sure if Arsenal is out of the race for Moussa Diaby. There are three clubs with concrete interest as things stand; one is Arsenal, one is PSG, and the third is Newcastle,’ Falk wrote for Caught Offside.
‘Newcastle have been interested for a long time and now they’re gearing up to have another go at signing him. We heard they’re preparing an offer of about €60m.
‘The last time we talked in the winter, they were interested but the deal never came about because Leverkusen weren’t interested in selling, so Newcastle brought in Anthony Gordon. I think they paid €45.6m but he isn’t the solution they’re searching for, which is why they’re coming back for Diaby.
‘He has a contract until 2025 and Leverkusen are wary of having to potentially sell the player if €60m is put on the table.’
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While Diaby may be heading for the Premier League, Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is preparing for a return to the Bundesliga.
With the Switzerland international’s contract up in 2024, Arsenal value him at €15m and Bayer Leverkusen are keen to sign him.
‘Granit Xhaka’s contract runs out in 2024. Leverkusen have already had concrete talks with the Arsenal player last summer but, at that time, the club asked for €30m, which was too much for Leverkusen,’ Falk added.
‘Now, they’ve heard about a price-tag of €15m and this would be doable for Leverkusen.
‘Xabi Alonso really wants him; he needs a player of this mentality. Leverkusen know they have to fulfil a big wish, as many clubs are interested in the manager at the minute.’
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