Transfer News: West Ham United and Liverpool could battle it out for Moussa Diaby
According to transfer news on Italian outlet Calcio Mercato (h/t Liverpool Echo), West Ham United have entered the race to sign Liverpool target and Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby.
The 22-year-old wideman has made a name for himself in Bundesliga this term with his pace and dribbling skills out wide. He has 16 goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season, and it is fair to say his transfer from PSG back in the summer of 2019 has worked well for him.
The Reds have been linked with Diaby in recent times with him touted as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah if the Egyptian was to leave the Reds. But it seems that the Hammers are the latest entrants in the race to secure his services.
The question now arises- do Liverpool even need a player of that profile right now? The answer can go both ways. The Reds already have the likes of Diogo Jota, Sadio Mane, Mo Salah, Takumi Minamino, Luis Diaz, and even Divock Origi as players who can play down the flanks if and when required.
What next for Diaby?
Amidst this, it is hard to see where the France international will get gametime from. But on other hand, Origi is linked with a move to AC Milan. Mane and Salah aren’t getting any younger with the latter still embroiled in a contract standoff with the Reds.
Jota has often played down the middle for us and it isn’t unwise to think that he can be the long-term replacement for Firmino at number 9. In such a situation, there arises a need for a young winger that can safeguard our long-term interests.
Diaby could be that man- but the club would have to formalize any interest they have in him for us to even start dreaming about seeing him in our famous Red shirt. Then there arises the question if the Reds would hold any interest- if they have any, to begin with- in Diaby if Mo Salah stays at Anfield for the next few years.
If he has been touted as a potential Salah replacement, then that statement implies that perhaps there is a chance Liverpool may not look at him- at least right now- as a potential signing.
That being said, West Ham’s interest should worry the Reds if there is genuine interest within the club to sign Diaby. The Hammers have shown they can challenge for Europe and a player like the Frenchman may get increased playing time at the London Stadium considering the quality of players LFC have at their disposal.
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So, where will Moussa Diaby play beyond this summer? This is something only time will tell. There is no doubt that Reds fans would want Salah to stay rather than the club to sign Diaby as a replacement if given the choice.
