‘Obsessed’: Fabrizio Romano says Newcastle were ‘in love’ with 23-year-old

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Speaking in an interview with WettFreunde, Fabrizio Romano has been discussing Newcastle United’s interest in Moussa Diaby.

The Magpies had been strongly linked with Diaby earlier this summer, but due to his hefty pricetag, the Tyneside club decided to drop their interest in the Frenchman.

However, according to Romano, this will have been a difficult pill for United to swallow as, according to the Italian, Newcastle were utterly bewitched by Diaby as a potential signing.

Indeed, the reporter claims that Newcastle were actually obsessed with Diaby, but, due to his price, the club had to give up on signing him.

What’s been said?

Romano spoke about just how much Newcastle loved Diaby.

“Newcastle were obsessed with Diaby. Newcastle were in love with him but sometime at the end of July they understood that it was almost impossible to negotiate with Bayer Leverkusen for less than £65-70m and they wanted to invest that money in a centre-forward, not a winger. That was the strategy,” Romano said.

“That’s why they spent a lot of money on Alexander Isak and not on Moussa Diaby.”

“And as for Diaby, with German clubs it’s almost impossible to negotiate in the last week, so I see him staying and maybe extending his contract.”

Better than Isak

Newcastle gave up on Diaby due to his £65-70m pricetag, but we have to feel as though that would have been value for money given that the Magpies would eventually spend a reported £59m on Alexander Isak.

Now, this isn’t a knock to Isak, but Diaby scored twice as many goals as the Swede last season in the league, while he also provided a substantially higher number of assists.

Yes, they play in different positions, but there’s also an argument to make that Newcastle needed a winger more than they needed a number nine. After all, Callum Wilson could score more than enough if he were to stay fit throughout the season.

Diaby at £70m may have been a better signing than Isak at £59m, and Newcastle may live to regret not stumping up the cash on this one.