Arsenal missed out on signing Ukrainian star Mykhaylo Mudryk from Shaktar Donetsk and have now turned interest to 23years old Bayern Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby.
Arsenal’s pursuit of a winger during the summer transfer window came to no avail, leaving Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli with added pressure to perform in the wide areas.
Mykhaylo Mudryk was reportedly a target for the Gunners during the winter transfer window, but the club suffered a setback as Chelsea hijacked the deal as Arsenal advanced in their negotiations.
With the January transfer window now open, the pressure is on Arsenal’s technical director Edu to find alternatives.
According to Sky Germany, Bayer Leverkusen forward Moussa Diaby is a player on Arsenal’s radar. The 23-year-old Frenchman still has a contract with the Bundesliga side until 2025, making for a potentially expensive deal.
However, Edu may be able to use Leverkusen’s interest in Cedric, a player reportedly being pursued by Fulham, Leverkusen, and Villareal, to improve Arteta’s squad.
Earlier last season, SportBILD reported that Arsenal had identified Diaby as the ideal replacement for Pepe, with Leverkusen reportedly asking for €100million (£84million) for the French International, However, should Diaby force a move elsewhere, the figure could drop to €75million (£63million).
Diaby has had a strong season so far, having scored two goals in Europe, including a pivotal strike against Atletico Madrid that helped keep Leverkusen’s hopes of remaining in Europe alive.
He also had a strong campaign last season, scoring 17 goals and providing 14 assists in all competitions. He would be a quality signing for Arsenal and a solid alternative to Mudryk