Newcastle United have found themselves at a crossroads and could be set for a busy time in January, with takeover talks continuing and potentially leading to a squad overhaul.
Whilst all of the discussion and excitement will be around the players who Newcastle could bring into the club, there’s also likely to be significant departures and those struggling for playing time could push for an exit.
Therefore, that may include Newcastle midfielder Mohamed Diame; a player who has started just once in the Premier League for the Magpies this season and faces a stern test to force his way back into the starting line-up.
With Rafael Benitez having Mikel Merino, Ayoze Perez, Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden to choose from in midfield roles, Diame may struggle to get back into the side and one former striker believes a move to the Championship would be ideal.
Speaking to WalesOnline, former Cardiff City striker Nathan Blake urged Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock to break the bank for Diame in January- suggesting he can be as influential in midfield as Moussa Dembele is for Tottenham Hotspur.
“Cardiff don’t need much, they really don’t. What they do require is something a little unique, someone with that extra quality who can make the difference between the top two and the top six at the end of the season.”
“The person who fits that bill for me is Mohamed Diame, who spends far too much of his time at the moment sitting on the bench up at Newcastle United and who must be itching to play regularly in a successful side.”
“Diame, for me, is everything the Bluebirds need for the final push under Warnock. Strong, powerful, athletic, experienced and with the know-how of what’s required to go up from the Championship. He was a kingpin for Newcastle when they won the title last season, but his game time has been far more limited in the Premier League under Rafa Benitez.”
“In fact, Diame has only started one league game this season and that’s a waste of a player of his undoubted ability.”
“He ticks all the boxes for me. He could play as the holding midfielder instead of Gunnarsson; he could play next to Gunnarsson, with the energy to go box-to-box. Or he could play ahead of Gunnarsson, in the more creative number ten role. He could fulfil any of those functions with equal aplomb. That’s what I mean by the kind of unique quality Warnock needs to look at.”
