Arsenal have made official contact to sign Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby in the January transfer window.

That’s according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth who claims that Leverkusen are reluctant to sell mid-season and are quoting the Gunners a whopping €100 million (£89 million) for the 23-year-old ace.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was beaten to the signing of Mykhaylo Mudryk by Chelsea over the weekend.

And because of that, the Spaniard is clearly keen to pursue alternative targets, Diaby being one of them…

Arsenal make contact to sign Moussa Diaby

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth reckons that the Gunners could be priced out of a deal to sign the eight-capped France international this month:

Arsenal have made initial contact with Bayer Leverkusen over Moussa Diaby. Leverkusen do not want to sell mid-season. Leverkusen were quoting €100m to interested clubs in the summer. #AFC #Bayer04 #MoussaDiaby

— Dharmesh Sheth (@skysports_sheth) January 17, 2023

I believe that Arsenal should be going all out to sign the Leverkusen ace. He would be a superb backup option for Mudryk, and maybe an ever better one.

Diaby joined Bayer Leverkusen from Paris Saint-Germian in the summer of 2019.

He has been a huge hit with the Bundesliga side, bagging 43 goals and 41 assists in 146 games so far.

Last season, the Frenchman chalked up 17 goals and 14 assists in 42 games. And this term, he has eight goals and four assists to his name in 22 outings.

The 23-year-old is absolutely rapid and plays with a certain kind of directness that would he see him slot perfectly into the Gunners’ setup.

He has been described as an ‘astonishing’ player by the Bundesliga’s official website. Moussa Diaby has the kind of talent to really push Arsenal on to another level, and he would provide solid cover and competition on both flanks for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Whether Arsenal are able to afford Leverkusen’s £89 million demands this month is highly doubtful though. And more to the point, he’s probably not worth that extortionate fee, as good as he is.

Stats via Transfermarkt.

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