Bayer Leverkusen will sell Moussa Diaby but Newcastle will have to meet huge transfer demand

Bayer Leverkusen are 'optimistic' that Moussa Diaby will stay for another season but the club's sporting director has admitted that the Newcastle United target will be sold at some point.

Newcastle will step up their search for firepower in the coming weeks and, as well as signing a striker, Eddie Howe would ideally like to bring in a wide forward, too. Diaby is certainly someone who is well-liked by the coaching staff and recruitment team alike.

As well as having lightning quick pace, crucially, Diaby has the end product to match after being directly involved in 32 goals for Leverkusen last season. However, Diaby still has three years left on his contract and Leverkusen are under no immediate pressure to let the forward go after qualifying for the Champions League, which is the stage the France international wants to play on.

Newcastle have already brought in Sven Botman, Matt Targett and Nick Pope this summer so it is difficult to envisage the Magpies paying the £55m-£60m Leverkusen want for Diaby this summer unless a compromise is reached. Newcastle's owners, after all, are keen to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations so they can continue to build at a steady rate in the years to come.

PSG are also keeping a close eye on Diaby, who left the Parisian giants for Leverkusen in 2019, and Simon Rolfes, the club's sporting director, knows that the 22-year-old will eventually move on.

“I’m optimistic about Moussa that he will play here again next season but when clubs with incredibly large financial opportunities bid for such a player, we have to sell a top player at some point,” the Leverkusen chief told Sky Germany.