According to the Daily Star, Newcastle United midfielder Mo Diame is likely to switch boats from Tyneside at the end of the season due to a contract dispute with the Magpies.
Newcastle want to offer the 31-year-old a 12-month extension to his current deal which is set to expire next summer but the hugely-experienced Senegalese international is keen on securing his long-term future and wants a fresh two-year contract, something that the Magpies are reluctant to offer. (h/t Daily Star)
The former West Ham, Hull City and Wigan man featured regularly for Newcastle in the first half of the season but he has been unable to regain his place in the first-team following an injury at the start of January, with the in-form duo of Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden delivering the goods in central midfield.
Diame joined Newcastle from Hull City back in 2016 and has made a total of 98 appearances for the Magpies in all competitions but his time at Tyneside might as well draw to a close at the end of the ongoing season.
The Daily Star claims that Diame has attracted interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray and Besiktas, whilst the Premier League duo of Brighton and Crystal Palace, as well as clubs from Italy and Spain are also keen on securing his services.
To be honest, Diame is still good enough to play regular first-team football for any mid-table team in the Premier League or a promotion-hopeful in the Championship. The player’s links with Palace and Brighton might surprise a few given that both the teams are very well-stocked in the central midfield department.
If Diame really chooses to call time on his career at Tyneside then he should look at other options. Here are 3 potential destinations that would best serve his hopes of playing regularly.
Frank Lampard’s side have enjoyed a decent run in the Championship this season and the Rams currently sit 7th in the standings, level on points with Bristol City for the final promotion playoff spot. Derby signed Andy King on loan from Leicester City in January but the 30-year-old hasn’t really hit the ground running at Pride Park till now.
While they will have a decision to make on King’s future at the end of the season, the impending departure of 32-year-old Craig Bryson is bound to be a cause of concern for Lampard. The Scottish Daily Express claims that the midfielder has been offered a contract by Kilmarnock, with his deal at Pride Park set to expire in the summer.
Diame, with his tough tackling nature, game reading, ability to add solidity to the midfield and bagful of experience, should be a welcome addition to Derby’s existing options which include Tom Huddlestone and George Evans.
The Cottagers currently languish second-bottom in the Premier League and it looks highly improbable that they are going to survive relegation this term. If Fulham get relegated, they might be forced to part ways with several of their highly-rated players.
While their season has been plagued by lack of solidity at the back, the central midfielders haven’t done a great job in shielding the porous rearguard either. Mega money Summer recruit Jean Michael-Seri has failed to justify his price tag while the likes of Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Kevin McDonald and Stefan Johansen have been well below-par this season.
Calum Chambers has excelled in a holding midfield role but he is expected to return to Arsenal at the end of the campaign and a reliable seasoned campaigner like Mo Diame can provide that stability at the heart of the midfield.
Bournemouth have had a good campaign in the Premier League this term, and although the Cherries might fall short of a top-ten finish, they should look to add some quality players to their squad in the summer to post a better challenge next season.
Eddie Howe bolstered his squad by the acquisition of youngsters like Chris Mepham and Dominic Solanke in January but he needs to bring in some reinforcements in central midfield as well.
While club-record signing Jefferson Lerma has been a hit this season, the likes of Dan Gosling and Andrew Surman hasn’t done enough to retain their places. Lewis Cook has also struggled for form and fitness, which should leave the door open for Howe to add at least one more central midfielder.
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Diame’s experience can certainly prove to be an invaluable asset to the Cherries and the Senegalese enforcer might prove to an upgrade on Gosling and Surman.