Newcastle United

Newcastle United: Chris Waugh claims alternative wingers now being targeted

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Image for Newcastle United: Chris Waugh claims alternative wingers now being targeted

Chris Waugh has claimed on the Pod on the Tyne podcast that Newcastle United are now looking at alternatives to Moussa Diaby.

The Magpies appear to have now strengthened a defence that was already solid under Eddie Howe last season keeping four clean sheets in their last eight league games, by singing Matt Targett, Sven Botman and Nick Pope.

Now though, a lot of the focus is likely going to turn to the attacking side of things as the Magpies finished as the league’s twelfth-lowest scorers last campaign, however, someone that seemingly won’t be arriving unless his price tag is rescued, is Frenchman Diaby.

Waugh believes that the Magpies are now scouting alternative winger targets.

(43:05) “If they are to play half of the season without Callum Wilson [because of injuries] the way you can mitigate for that is, rather than having just a Callum Wilson-like, or an alternative to Wilson is to have more players who provide more goals across the pitch.

Who would you rather Newcastle signed?

Gouiri!

Gouiri!

Diaby!

Diaby!

“That’s ideally what Newcastle are looking for, Moussa Diaby has been among their top targets, if not the top target, for the right-sided forward but again, the prices Newcastle are being quoted, they are just not willing to go to whatever the price is that Leverkusen are meaning at the minute, in excess of £50 million, pushing on £60 million.

“Whether that changes as it goes on, there’s even been suggestions in France that even if Newcastle did reach a deal, he’s not interested in coming to Newcastle, we shall wait and see on that front but they are certainly considering alternatives because of that.”

TIF Thoughts on Diaby alternatives…

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The Magpies appear to already be well on their way to identifying Diaby alternatives given that reports have suggested that they are fond of another French winger, this time in the form of Amine Gouir of Nice who has managed to record 22 goals and 16 assists over the last two Ligue 1 seasons.

It’s not just the European market that Newcastle are looking at however, they could be set for a double raid on Burnley, which would make it four signings from the Lancashire club in just a few months, as they are now linked with moves for Dwight McNeil and Maxwell Cornet, so they are certainly not fixated on landing Diaby with his huge price tag.

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