Arsenal are allegedly plotting a late summer swoop for Bayer Leverkusen attacker Moussa Diaby.
The France international has attracted plenty of interest from clubs across Europe after starring in Leverkusen's push for Champions League football last season.
Diaby contributed 13 goals and 12 assists in 32 Bundesliga matches as Leverkusen secured a third-placed finish, and he also amassed four goals and three assists from eight Europa League outings.
The 23-year-old has broken into the France squad under Didier Deschamps courtesy of his exploits in Germany and was initially regarded as a top target for Newcastle United.
However, the Magpies are now understood to have ended their interest in Diaby, with Leverkusen holding firm on their stance that he is not for sale.
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"For sure we want to keep Moussa for as long as possible," Leverkusen director Simon Rolfes recently told the Daily Express. "I know a lot of scouts have been sitting on our tribune during our matches because we have a lot of interesting, exciting young players with high potential."
Nevertheless, Premier League clubs are still ready to test the waters in the final few weeks of the window, and Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has allegedly given his side the green light to make a move for Diaby.
The Red Devils could face competition from Arsenal, though, as Football Insider claims that Gunners owner Stan Kroenke has also given his approval for the club to pursue the ex-Paris Saint-Germain youngster.
The report adds that Leverkusen would be after a fee of £60m to part ways with Diaby, whose contract with the Bundesliga powerhouses runs until the summer of 2025.
Diaby made fleeting starts for PSG before sealing a permanent switch to Leverkusen in 2019, and he has totalled 35 goals and 38 assists in 125 games for the German club since.
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Kroenke and fellow Arsenal chiefs are said to have been left impressed with the team's development under Mikel Arteta, and the Gunners are prepared to "push the boat out" to agree a deal for Diaby.
Arsenal have added a new dimension to their attack with the £45m capture of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City, and the Brazilian put in an impressive showing on his debut in Friday's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Jesus's compatriot Marquinhos has also arrived from Sao Paulo and will continue to develop in the Under-21s, and he scored his first goal in Saturday's 3-1 success over Manchester United.
Fabio Vieira is also capable of featuring out wide for the Gunners, but he is still waiting for his debut in North London as he battles his way back from an ankle injury.
Gabriel Martinelli and a Marc Guehi own goal handed Arsenal a 2-0 win at Selhurst Park on Friday, during which William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko also enjoyed positive competitive debuts.
Ben Knapton
