A major claim has emerged on Newcastle and their pursuit of Moussa Diaby in the summer transfer window...

What's the talk?

The French winger has decided that he will be staying in the Bundesliga next season, with 90min reporter Graeme Bailey adding that he was the Magpies' number one target.

He Tweeted: "Moussa Diaby confirms intent to stay at Bayer Leverkusen. Has been Newcastle's top attacking target for much of the summer...but Bayer have stood firm. As it stands, he is staying in Germany."

The accompanying article then quotes him as telling RP Online: "I have taken my decision and I will play again for Bayer Leverkusen next season.

"It is up to me to keep performing well and to make it [to the World Cup]. I will do all that I can to be able to continue to be part of the squad.

"We have a really impressive team, uniquely with players at the highest level. I also need to be patient to find my place one day in the team."

Supporters will be gutted

This claim will surely leave supporters gutted as it comes as a major blow to the club's plans for the rest of the window.

He was their key target to bolster Eddie Howe's attack and this setback means that they will have to go further down their list to find an alternative. This could lead to them signing a player who either does not offer as much as Diaby or does suit the team and tactics as effectively as the Frenchman could have.

The fans will also be gutted because it means that they will not be able to watch him running down the wing for the Magpies next season.

Diaby is an exciting and young talent who could have got supporters off their feet with his brilliant play out wide. He showed in the Bundesliga that he has the quality to score and assist goals on a regular basis and this means that he could have entertained the fanbase week-in-week-out.

In the German top-flight last term, he plundered 13 goals and 12 assists for Leverkusen as he proved that he can make a huge impact in a major European league.

Meanwhile, no Newcastle player managed more than eight goals or five assists in the Premier League. This suggests that Diaby would be a big upgrade on what Eddie Howe currently has to work with, which is another reason why fans will be gutted that he has decided to remain in Germany.

AND in other news, Newcastle "have enquired" about signing £60m "nightmare", he'd be a big Wood upgrade...