Charles Watts says Arsenal have ‘watched’ Bayern Leverkusen star and Aston Villa transfer target Moussa Diaby.
The 24-year-old is attracting transfer interest from the Premier League, with Football London journalist Watts sharing that Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are ‘bidding’ for the player.
The Arsenal transfer expert added that Moussa Diaby is a player that Mikel Arteta’s side ‘like’ and have ‘watched’, but they won’t be pushing for his signature anytime soon as they look to clear their squad, as he told his own YouTube channel.
After breaking their club-record transfer for Declan Rice, as well as bringing in Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz, once again, those at the Emirates have made big calls and stuck their chest out this summer by spending big.
But whilst a lot of money has gone out of the club, there now needs to be a level of balance, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if more players follow Granit Xhaka out of the exit door.
That was touched upon by Watts, who suggested that, by the time Arsenal get to the negotiating table for Diaby, he might already be an Aston Villa player by then.
“Aston Villa are bidding for Moussa Diaby, at the moment,” said Watts. “They haven’t successfully bid. It has been rejected so far and it looks like they are going to go back in for him.
“I think he has been linked to clubs in Saudi as well. He is a player Arsenal like and have watched. They have also monitored him, but they have never actually made a move yet for him. I would love it to happen. I think he is the type of player Arsenal need to provide cover and competition for Saka on that right-hand side.
“I just think, for now, with the big, big additions that they have made. The focus is now going to switch to moving players on. Once they do that, then I think they might reassess things a little bit and look at what else they need to do in the squad.
“Whether that means it will be too late for Diaby, it potentially looks like it might be now because Villa are really, really pushing.”
Diaby would light up the Premier League
A player with quick feet, outstanding vision, an underrated passing range and searing speed. He is someone that is destined to make it onto the Premier League stage.
It’s just a case of whose door will he land on. Emery is looking to bolster his forward line this summer and there has been strong talk about Diaby.
It’s pretty clear for Villa, if they are serious about the rising French star, who has been dubbed as ‘astonishing’ over in Germany, then they better be quick about it because if Arsenal come knocking with Champions League football, then he will just opt for a move to London instead.
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