Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United set to battle Premier League clubs for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby in the summer
According to Sport Bild (h/t The Sun), Manchester United are set to battle it out with other Premier League clubs over a move for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Diaby is enjoying one of his most productive seasons for the club, racking up multiple goals and assists in Germany. He has shone brightly for the Bundesliga side thus far, helping them move up to third in the league table.
They are on course to secure a Champions League spot for themselves, which would be a massive upgrade from last season’s sixth-place finish domestically. Diaby has been a key player in their run to a top-four spot, putting in impressive displays on the pitch.
The Frenchman seems to have finally found his feet at Leverkusen, after completing a move from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019. However, his performances for the German side could see them lose the player in the summer, as he has picked up interest from several other clubs.
Leverkusen firm in their valuation
The Premier League could be a likely destination for the 22-year-old, with teams such as United, Arsenal, and Newcastle United having a concrete interest in signing Diaby. A legend of the English top-flight is also said to be keen on securing the winger’s signature, with Jose Mourinho looking to bring him to AS Roma.
However, the club want to retain Diaby’s services beyond the summer transfer window. With the forward seeing his current deal with Leverkusen expire in 2025, they are set to demand a fee of at least £63m in the event he exits the Bundesliga side. It is also said that the German club will not budge from their valuation of the player, with the ex-PSG star having no release clause in his contract.
Diaby could prove to be a useful signing for Man United, given the state of things in the attacking department at Old Trafford. Marcus Rashford has struggled to get going this season and has been relegated to playing a substitute role on the bench.
Jadon Sancho’s arrival last summer brought huge expectations along with him, due to the impressive four years he spent at Borussia Dortmund and made a name for himself as one of the most talented wide men in Europe. However, he has failed to live up to the hype this term, although things have looked up since the turn of the new year.
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Mason Greenwood’s suspension saw the rise of Anthony Elanga on the wing, and the Swede has been one of the few bright sparks in the Red Devils’ campaign this time around. The academy product has kept players like Rashford and Jesse Lingard out of the team, which is not an easy thing to boast of.
Diaby’s inclusion in this team could boost their goals return and offer more of an attacking edge in the opposition half, which is something that the current crop of forwards has been unable to offer. It will be quite the transfer battle to sign the Frenchman, but a hard-fought win for the player may be worth it.
