'Because of that...' - Journalist claims NUFC now considering 'alternatives' for 'top' target

Chris Waugh has claimed on the Pod on the Tyne podcast that Newcastle United are now looking at alternatives to Moussa Diaby.

The Magpies appear to have now strengthened a defence that was already solid under Eddie Howe last season keeping four clean sheets in their last eight league games, by singing Matt Targett, Sven Botman and Nick Pope.

Now though, a lot of the focus is likely going to turn to the attacking side of things as the Magpies finished as the league’s twelfth-lowest scorers last campaign, however, someone that seemingly won’t be arriving unless his price tag is rescued, is Frenchman Diaby.

Waugh believes that the Magpies are now scouting alternative winger targets.

(43:05) “If they are to play half of the season without Callum Wilson [because of injuries] the way you can mitigate for that is, rather than having just a Callum Wilson-like, or an alternative to Wilson is to have more players who provide more goals across the pitch.

“That’s ideally what Newcastle are looking for, Moussa Diaby has been among their top targets, if not the top target, for the right-sided forward but again, the prices Newcastle are being quoted, they are just not willing to go to whatever the price is that Leverkusen are meaning at the minute, in excess of £50 million, pushing on £60 million.

“Whether that changes as it goes on, there’s even been suggestions in France that even if Newcastle did reach a deal, he’s not interested in coming to Newcastle, we shall wait and see on that front but they are certainly considering alternatives because of that.”

TIF Thoughts on Diaby alternatives…

The Magpies appear to already be well on their way to identifying Diaby alternatives given that reports have suggested that they are fond of