No deal: Newcastle owners now unwilling to meet demands for 'electric' sensation - report

Newcastle United are reportedly set to abandon their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby this summer, according to Football Insider. 

The French forward has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence in Germany after moving from boyhood club Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, directly contributing to 72 goals in 124 outings for the Bundesliga outfit.

Following a spectacular 2021/22 campaign for the 22-year-old, the Magpies have been heavily linked with a move for him in recent weeks, and it had appeared as though an offer would be forthcoming.

However, it now seems as though the Tyneside club might have been priced out of a move at this stage…

As per a ‘recruitment source’ for Football Insider, Newcastle will back away from the six-cap France international, having learned of a lofty price tag for him.

The report claimed that the Premier League club have been ‘put off’ by a £60m demand from Leverkusen and will now be ‘prioritising other attacking options’ in the market.

It’s stated that Newcastle manager Eddie Howe wants to add an attacker who can make an ‘instant first-team impact’ on the squad at St James’ Park, but that now seemingly won’t be Diaby, who was described as ‘electric’ by journalist Eduardo Hagn owing to his phenomenal pace.

Walking away from this deal at £60m would be an interesting stance from the Tyneside club as a nod towards their spending powers, willingness to invest or indeed the limits to which they are restricted due to Financial Fair Play regulations this summer.

At just 22, under contract until 2025 and of the back of a season in which he racked up 17 goals and 14 assists, signing Diaby for the mooted fee would still be a sensational piece of business from Newcastle.

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