Diaby’s Future in Limbo Amid Transfer Speculation

omidbasir- In 2023, Aston Villa acquired Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen for £52 million ($72 million). During his one season at Villa, he scored 10 goals in 54 appearances. However, he moved to Al-Ittihad a little over 18 months later for a similar fee, expressing his enthusiasm about joining the Saudi club.

Diaby stated, “I am thrilled to join Al-Ittihad and be part of a project that aims to build a strong team that reflects the club’s rich history and values. I look forward to collaborating with my new teammates to achieve victories and bring joy to our dedicated fans.”

At 26 years old, Diaby has been linked to Serie A leaders Inter Milan. However, recent reports from The Independent indicate that Tottenham Hotspur is also considering signing him. Diaby has expressed a desire to play for a Champions League team, with Inter currently favored to secure his signature. Tottenham, currently struggling with injuries to key players Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison, is reportedly keen to enhance their attacking options this month, as there remains an opportunity to outmaneuver Inter for Diaby. His motivation for this potential move stems from his absence from the French national squad in the past year. Didier Deschamps has not included him in recent selections, and Diaby is eager to represent France in the upcoming World Cup. While Inter is almost certain to participate in the Champions League next season, Tottenham’s 14th position in the Premier League raises uncertainties about their European aspirations.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank faces mounting pressure to retain his position following a lackluster Premier League season, with the last league victory occurring on December 28 against Crystal Palace. Despite the struggles in domestic play, Frank has found solace in some strong performances in the Champions League, having led Spurs to the knockout stages of the competition while avoiding the perilous play-offs.

Following their 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, Frank commented, “I am very happy with the performance. The players showed great character and mentality. We maintained control from start to finish. There are no easy matches, but we find ourselves with 17 points and in fourth place, which is quite impressive. The fans were fantastic, traveling in numbers and supporting us throughout the game. This is not just about me; I am grateful for the staff, the players, and how well we prepared for these matches.”

With the winter transfer window closing on February 2, the future of Diaby remains uncertain, and it remains to be seen if he will depart Al-Ittihad before the fast-approaching deadline. Before that, Frank’s squad will host Manchester City in the league on Sunday.