Chelsea appear to have joined London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the battle for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby, per reports.
Diaby was the subject of speculation regarding a transfer to the Premier League over the summer. His main suitors seemed to be Arsenal and Newcastle United. However, Bayer Leverkusen held firm with a high valuation of the Frenchman, who wanted to stay put anyway.
Therefore, he is still with the Bundesliga club after the closure of the window. But come 2023, and there will be fresh rumours about Diaby’s future.
According to 90min, Diaby has recently been observed by five Premier League clubs. As well as existing suitors Arsenal and Newcastle, representatives from Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City have been to watch him in action.
On Tuesday, Bayer Leverkusen beat Atletico Madrid 2-0 in a Champions League group game. Diaby scored the second goal of the game, three minutes after the opener and three minutes from time.
The report from 90min has revealed that scouts from all five of his Premier League admirers were in attendance.
Chelsea’s presence in particular is interesting. Callum Hudson-Odoi is currently on loan at Leverkusen, so they have been checking on him, but already had plans to keep an eye on fellow starter, Diaby.
Whether they will firm up their interest remains to be seen. Some of the other suitors seem to have been established in the race for Diaby for longer, such as Newcastle, for example.
But Newcastle do not have European football on offer this season. In contrast, the other four clubs vying for the 23-year-old’s signature do.
Still, the Magpies are aiming to compete with clubs of that stature thanks to their financial power these days. Hence, Diaby’s future could be all to play for.
Bayer Leverkusen have the France international under contract until 2025.
Where would Moussa Diaby be best off?
If it is soon going to be time for Diaby to take on a new challenge, he might have a lot of options available to him.
The Premier League looks to be a likely landing spot for someone who has already played in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga.
Of the five clubs keeping tabs on him, though, where would be the best destination for Diaby?
Much will depend on what he wants from his next move. Will it be competing for trophies, or ensuring regular gametime?
It would be easy to see the appeal of joining a club like Manchester City, who obviously are Premier League champions. However, the competitive nature of the squad would take some adapting to.
On the other hand, Diaby would be a starter on a regular basis for Newcastle. That said, he might have to wait to compete for silverware.
Hence, perhaps one of the London suitors for the 23-year-old could be best. As a winger, he might not have a defined role in Antonio Conte’s system for Tottenham, which would narrow it down to a battle between Chelsea and Arsenal.
But there is always scope for surprises in the transfer market. Hence, only time will tell what happens with the former PSG product.
