Why Moussa Diaby's proposed Leverkusen return continues to stall | OneFootball

For some time now, Bayer Leverkusen have been working on bringing Al-Ittihad winger Moussa Diaby back to the club, but negotiations are dragging on and the transfer is taking longer than expected.

Kicker reports that, although Leverkusen remain optimistic, the deal could potentially collapse, with the main stumbling block being financial and only indirectly related to the Bundesliga club.

Diaby is said to earn more than €10 million per year at Al-Ittihad, while his salary at Leverkusen would reportedly be around €6 million plus bonuses.

Before the move can progress, the Frenchman must reach an agreement with Al-Ittihad over whether he will receive a severance payment and, if so, how much.

The transfer fee itself is not expected to be an issue, and the two clubs are expected to reach an agreement on a fee below €30 million – provided the remaining stumbling block can be resolved.

Meanwhile, Inter are also said to be interested and could potentially attempt to hijack the deal.

Diaby previously played for Leverkusen between 2019 and 2023, scoring 31 goals and providing 36 assists in 125 Bundesliga appearances.