Inter revive Diaby interest but Leverkusen lead the race
Quick summary
Inter Milan have reportedly reignited their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby, but the Bundesliga side remain favourites to sign the French winger.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceInter have revived their interest in Moussa Diaby as they search for a successor to Denzel Dumfries, though they face stiff competition from Bayer Leverkusen for the Al-Ittihad winger.
According to Corriere dello Sport , Diaby is Inter’s first-choice option to fill the void left by Dumfries’s move to Real Madrid, a more offensive profile that fits the brief Cristian Chivu set out after the friendly against Manchester City, and the one area Inter can address without first needing to sell.
The catch is that Leverkusen, keen to bring back a player who starred for them between 2019 and 2023, have made their own move increasingly pressing, with reports in Germany suggesting the Bundesliga side are closing in on a deal.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 23: Kristjan Asllani during the coppa Italia Semi Final match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Asllani the makeweight in Inter’s Diaby bid The Nerazzurri’s route runs through Al-Ittihad, and sporting director Piero Ausilio has put Kristjan Asllani on the table as a makeweight, plus cash, in a package worth around €30m, without yet shaking hands. Leverkusen, by contrast, are offering cash only.
The sense is that whichever club first reaches agreement with the Saudi side will land the France international, who is said to be open to both a return to Germany and a move to Italy, having had a brief spell at Crotone back in 2018.
Should the Diaby pursuit collapse, the Nerazzurri retain an alternative in Nico González, offered to them for a second time in a matter of months.
The Juventus winger could gain traction later, particularly if he offers a way to resolve two situations at once, filling the wide berth while also easing the Davide Frattesi impasse that awaits Inter on their return from Australia.
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What happened
Inter Milan are said to have reopened talks with Moussa Diaby's representatives as they look to strengthen their attacking options ahead of next season. However, Bayer Leverkusen, where Diaby has played since 2019, are reportedly ahead in the race and prefer to retain the 22-year-old French international. Diaby has been a key performer for Leverkusen with strong output in goals and assists, making him a highly sought-after winger in the European market.
Chance analysis
Diaby represents a high-value attacking target with proven Bundesliga output, making this a significant transfer storyline. Leverkusen's apparent lead suggests Inter face an uphill battle to land the winger, which could shift their transfer strategy toward alternative targets. For Leverkusen, retaining Diaby would be a major boost to their attacking depth ahead of the new season, while losing him would require a significant replacement effort.
Leverkusen appear likely to keep Diaby, preserving their attacking strength; Inter's pursuit may push them toward alternative winger targets if they miss out.
Monitor Diaby's transfer status as it directly impacts Leverkusen's attacking depth and Inter's squad-building plans for next season.