"Pretty much dead in the water" – Journalist drops big Newcastle transfer update on French ace

Newcastle United’s move for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby is ‘pretty much dead in the water’, according to Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor.

The Magpies were reportedly contemplating trying to sign the highly-rated 22-year-old this summer before being put off by his £60 million price tag.

According to The Telegraph, Newcastle’s pursuit of Diaby ‘is over’ after the Leverkusen placed a sizeable valuation on their prized asset in order to fend off any potential suitors.

The France international rose through the ranks at boyhood club Paris Saint-Germain, departing for the BayArena in July 2019 in search of regular first-team opportunities.

Since then, Diaby has cemented his status as one of the most exciting attacking talents in the Bundesliga, registering 34 goals and 37 assists in 124 appearances for Leverkusen across all competitions.

And the creative talent’s exploits clearly caught the eye of the Newcastle hierarchy, but with three years remaining on his current contract, it doesn’t seem as though he will be departing German football any time soon.

Leverkusen have sold several of their top talents to Premier League sides in the past, with the likes of Leon Bailey, Kai Havertz and Bernd Leno all departing for English shores in recent years.

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However, Taylor has stated that the German outfit ‘don’t want to sell anyone’ this summer, all but ending Newcastle’s hopes of signing Diaby.

He told GiveMeSport: “They don’t want to sell anyone. See, the good thing about Leverkusen is that they probably trust within themselves that they could replace anyone that leaves because they’ve got such a good eye for recruitment, but that’s pretty much dead in the