Former Arsenal target could join Unai Emery at Aston Villa
By Evan Curnew
Aston Villa will be hoping to secure group-stage play in the Europa Conference League, and they’re going all in this transfer window. They have already signed both Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres, who should significantly strengthen the depth of the squad needed for European competition.
With a midfielder and defender signed, the club is now looking to add at the forward position. A player the club has begun to pursue is Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby. The French winger is a legitimate target for Villa, and they have officially launched their first bid. Fabrizio Romano is reporting that the ‘real fee’ from Aston Villa for Moussa Diaby is £30M. The bid also includes add-ons, but there is not an official number on what those may add up to.
Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg is reporting that Leverkusen wants £51M for Moussa Diaby this summer. Conversely, the first bid from Aston Villa has been rejected. The expectation is that back-and-forth negotiations between the clubs will continue.
Moussa Diaby has been heavily linked to the Premier League these past two summer transfer windows. Both Arsenal and Newcastle were interested in signing Diaby last summer. In fact, The Top Flight reported that Moussa Diaby was seen as an alternative to Mykhaylo Mudryk after the Ukrainian winger joined rivals, Chelsea. Funny enough, the pacy French attacker may now join former Arsenal manager Unai Emery at Aston Villa.
Moussa Diaby’s current contract at Bayer Leverkusen expires in 2025, making a move away a real possibility. Diaby recorded nine goals and nine assists last season, which saw Leverkusen finish 6th in the Bundesliga and qualify for Europa League. Coutinho, Buendia and Bailey are the current wide-forward cohort for Aston Villa. Diaby’s versatility of being able to play on either flank makes him an intriguing option for the Villians.
Should Diaby make his way to England, Villa would very likely be breaking their transfer record to sign him.