Arsenal ‘make contact’ with Bundesliga club for €100million Mudryk alternative, this would be huge

Arsenal have made contact with Bayer Leverkusen over Moussa Diaby, according to a Sky Sports journalist.

The Gunners have been looking to add to their forward ranks for months. Indeed the club’s pursuit of Mykhailo Mudryk reportedly started long before the January transfer window.

However, Arsenal’s attempts to sign the Ukrainian winger were scuppered last Saturday, when Chelsea swooped in and hijacked the deal.

The Blues signed Mudryk for some £88million from Shakhtar Donetsk, recruiting the 22-year-old on an eight-and-a-half-year contract.

In turn, Arsenal, who are currently eight points clear at the top of the Premier League, have turned their attention to other targets, with Barcelona’s Raphinha and Brighton’s Leandro Trossard having both been linked.

However, in recent days Leverkusen’s Diaby has also been listed as a possible Mudryk alternative.

Arsenal to sign Diaby?

Sky Sports transfer guru Dharmesh Sheth claimed that the Gunners have “made contact” with Leverkusen over a possible deal for Diaby.

Sheth tweeted: "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.”

Given Leverkusen’s unwillingness to sell in the winter window and Arsenal’s recent attempts to be more frugal in the market, it is uncertain whether a deal could be reached between both parties.

Nevertheless, Sky Germany have also claimed that Diaby is back on the north London’s club’s radar, having also been linked to the Gunners last year.

The 23-year-old winger moved to the Bundesliga in 2019, having started his career at Paris Saint-Germain. Since arriving at Leverkusen Diaby has notched up an impressive 43 goals and 41 assists in 146 appearances.

However, Saudi-backed Newcastle United are also thought to be interested in signing the France international.