Newcastle's Moussa Diaby refusal and the very different dream being sold to transfer targets

Newcastle United's refusal to give up on Bayer Leverkusen star Moussa Diaby is a timely reminder of the club's newfound status as the Magpies target one of Europe's hottest prospects.

After already signing Nick Pope, Matt Targett and Sven Botman, Eddie Howe would ideally like to bring in a wide forward and striker this summer and Diaby is someone who has been well-liked by the coaching staff and recruitment team alike for some time. It is easy to see why. As well as being rapid, Diaby is a real game-changer in the final third and the forward was directly involved in 32 goals for Leverkusen last season.

It is important to stress, though, that Diaby is content at Leverkusen and, with three years left to run on his contract, the Bundesliga giants are under no immediate pressure to sell the France international - particularly after qualifying for the Champions League. However, Simon Rolfes, Leverkusen's sporting director, admitted just last week that 'when clubs with incredibly large financial opportunities bid for such a player, we have to sell a top player at some point'.

Although it is still hard to envisage Newcastle stumping up the £55m-£60m Leverkusen want for Diaby, tellingly, Eddie Howe's side have not walked away just yet as the Magpies target another top talent on the continent who could grow with the club.

Newcastle do not have European football to offer, but Howe's side are able to sell a different sort of dream and journey to targets like Diaby. Sven Botman, for instance, who could have held out for Serie A champions AC Milan, said it was a 'project that's really looking bright to the future'. The highly-rated Dutchman, ultimately, saw himself 'growing with the club' to 'reach the top'.

In fact, Botman was so