Newcastle United midfielder Mo Diame was reportedly keen to link up with former Hull City manager Steve Bruce in the Championship with Aston Villa.
Mo Diame may have paid the price for one poor performance too many at Newcastle United.
Because The Sun claims that the Senegalese midfielder could leave St James’ Park in January with two Turkish sides, Sivasspor and Goztepe, keen to take him away from Tyneside in January. Though Aston Villa are conspicuous by their absence in the list of reported suitors – which could come as a blow to Diame.
According to The Mirror (13th November, page 47), he was very keen on linking up with his former Hull City manager Steve Bruce at Aston Villa in the January transfer window.
Bruce knows Diame well. And, while the midfielder is a frustrating figure at times, Bruce has witnessed his ability to produce something out of nothing first-hand. After all, it was Diame’s 25 yard screamer which sealed Hull’s win over Sheffield Wednesday in the 2016 play-off final.
But with The Sun claiming that Newcastle would demand £2.5 million for Diame, Aston Villa would probably be unable to fund a move for the 30-year-old – if they wanted him that is.
Thanks to Financial Fair Play restrictions, Villa have been forced to rely on loans and cut-price deals of late and will once again be unable to spend in any real capacity during the January transfer window.
So even at just £2.5 million, almost half what Newcastle paid for Diame a year-and-a-half ago, it seems a reunion with Bruce is pretty much impossible.
Though considering that Aston Villa fans made it very clear that they did not want Diame wearing claret and blue, there won’t be too much concern that the midfielder could pass them by.
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