Newcastle United could reportedly consider signing both Bayer Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby and Leicester City's James Maddison in January.
The Magpies were strongly linked with both players over the summer, but they instead invested their money elsewhere, recruiting Alexander Isak, Sven Botman, Nick Pope and Matt Targett for a combined fee in excess of £120m.
With Newcastle's Saudi-backed ownership able to provide further funds in the New Year, Eddie Howe may contemplate bolstering his squad as they bid to push for the European places this season.
The North East outfit, who currently sit fourth in the Premier League, are likely to face competition from fellow top-flight clubs for the signatures of both Diaby and Maddison, who have also attracted interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Diaby recorded 17 goals and 14 assists in 41 appearances for Leverkusen last season, and the 23-year-old winger remains a key asset for the German club, netting four times and providing four assists in 17 games this campaign.
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Meanwhile, Maddison has performed at a high level on a consistent basis for Leicester over the last few years and he had been a standout performer for a struggling Foxes outfit so far this term, scoring six goals and registering two assists in 10 Premier League matches.
Speaking on The Everything is Black and White Podcast, Chronicle Live, Newcastle editor Aaron Stokes believes that both Diaby and Maddison would be "realistic targets" for the club in 2023.
"Maddison and Diaby are the two names which are going to keep creeping up," said Stokes. "We know Newcastle were very keen in the summer and you'd think with the position they are in and the positions Leicester and Leverkusen are in, they will be two realistic targets if they fork out the cash for them.
"For me, you have to be looking at another attacker. Jacob Murphy has filled in well in the last couple of games and Ryan Fraser has spells but I think if Newcastle can just add one more bit of real quality, they'll have a real attack to be feared."
Stokes added: "[Howe] wants players who have the right character. No matter how good they are on the ball, if they're not doing the graft off the ball then I don't think they'll be in his plans.
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"We've heard him say back in the summer when they couldn't get bodies over the line that they didn't want to get players in quick, because they wanted to make sure they are the right characters.
"They're going to need players who have got a lot of energy, who are prepared to do the defending and do the dirty work as well as being good on the ball."
It is thought that Leverkusen value Diaby in the region of £60m, while Leicester are understood to have rejected two bids in excess of £40m for Maddison, with the Foxes valuing the 25-year-old midfielder in a similar price bracket to Diaby.
While Diaby is under contract at Leverkusen until the summer of 2025, Maddison will be out of contract at Leicester in June 2024.
Oliver Thomas
