An update has emerged on Newcastle United's pursuit of Moussa Diaby in the summer transfer window... 

What's the talk?

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has claimed that the Magpies are unlikely to sign the Frenchman because of his price tag.

The journalist has revealed that the club do not want to be forced into overpaying for players because of PIF's ownership and are willing to move on to other targets.

He told GIVEMESPORT:

“I think they’re also looking at Moussa Diaby, the winger from Bayer Leverkusen. That one looks like it is not going to happen either purely because of valuations.

“And that’s another theme with Newcastle United, just because they are the new cash-rich club in European football, they don’t want to be taken for a ride.

“They will do business in a way that they feel is reasonable. They do not want to be in a position where selling clubs feel that they can put a Newcastle-tax on a transfer fee. So, they’ll be doing their business diligently.”

Eddie Howe will be frustrated

The Toon head coach will surely be frustrated by this update because Diaby would have been a much-needed addition to the squad.

Howe is not blessed with a myriad of quality options in the attacking third and the Frenchman would have been a big upgrade on what he currently has to work with.

In the 2021/22 campaign, Miguel Almiron and Ryan Fraser both failed to prove that they have the consistency to be key players in the starting XI next term.

The former started 19 times - playing 30 games in total - in the Premier League and managed one goal, whilst failing to provide a single assist. Meanwhile, his Scottish teammate produced two goals and three assists in 27 outings - starting 18 matches.

These statistics show that neither of them did enough to show that they can make a big impact in the final third for Newcastle, whilst Diaby enjoyed a stellar campaign in the Bundesliga with Leverkusen.

The Frenchman racked up a stunning 13 goals and 12 assists in 32 games for the German outfit, averaging a SofaScore rating of 7.07. He proved that he can score and assist goals at an impressive rate at the top level, whilst he still has room to grow at the age of 22.

Diaby would, therefore, have been a gigantic upgrade on Fraser and Almiron and provide Howe with a huge boost heading into the 2022/23 campaign, which is why the boss will be frustrated by the impasse in negotiations.

AND in other news, Howe could land his own Dias for Newcastle in £38m deal to sign "underrated" colossus...