Godwin ObajeEverton Boosted in Habib Diarra Pursuit as Leeds United’s Hopes Fade
Everton have been handed an unexpected boost in the race to sign Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra, with sources indicating that Leeds United are now facing growing obstacles in their bid to bring the highly-rated Frenchman to Elland Road.
David Moyes, who is overseeing a pivotal summer rebuild at Goodison Park, has made midfield reinforcements a top priority. With Idrissa Gana Gueye the only experienced central midfielder expected to remain a regular starter next season, Everton’s engine room is in urgent need of fresh energy, athleticism, and composure in possession. Diarra, a 21-year-old box-to-box presence with a growing reputation in Ligue 1, ticks all the right boxes.
Leeds’ Setback Opens the Door
Leeds United had made Diarra one of their top targets ahead of their expected promotion push in 2025–26. After falling just short in the Championship play-offs, Daniel Farke was keen to add top-level quality to his midfield options, and Diarra — admired for his dynamic ball-carrying and defensive intelligence — was seen as a statement signing. However, the West Yorkshire club now face significant hurdles in securing the deal.
Financial constraints at Elland Road have led to a reassessment of key targets, and with Strasbourg commanding a fee in excess of £15 million for their prized asset, Leeds have cooled their interest. That development has been met with dismay by sections of the club’s recruitment team, who believed Diarra could have transformed the side’s transition game.
“Diarra would have been a level-raiser,” a source close to the negotiations told Football Insider. “There’s frustration that, despite groundwork being laid early, the club’s position has shifted due to financial uncertainties.”
That frustration has played directly into Everton’s hands. With Leeds’ pullback, the Merseyside club are now seen as frontrunners — and there’s renewed belief at Finch Farm that a deal could be struck before pre-season begins in July.
Everton’s Midfield Puzzle
David Moyes is under no illusions about the scale of the job in front of him. Everton’s survival last season owed more to grit and defensive organisation than midfield creativity or control. With Amadou Onana likely to be sold to raise funds — attracting interest from Arsenal and PSG — and James Garner linked with a move away, the Toffees face a potential vacuum in central areas.
Moyes wants to avoid being left short, particularly with the rigours of another long Premier League campaign ahead. Gueye, though still influential, is now 35 and will need careful management throughout the season. The Scot has identified Diarra as a player who can offer legs, pressing energy, and tactical flexibility — a profile that Everton currently lack.
Crucially, Moyes also believes the former France U21 international has the potential to grow into a Premier League mainstay. His versatility — comfortable in both a holding role and a more advanced capacity — aligns well with Everton’s need for adaptable players as they seek to compete on a limited budget.
Strasbourg’s Stance and Diarra’s Future
Strasbourg, now under the sporting umbrella of BlueCo — the same consortium that owns Chelsea — are open to selling Diarra, but only at the right price. They have no pressing need to offload him on the cheap and are prepared to play hardball if suitors fail to meet their valuation.
However, the player himself is believed to be open to a Premier League move. Having developed quickly since making his professional debut in 2021, Diarra is keen to test himself at a higher level. While a move to one of the English top-flight’s biggest clubs is unlikely at this stage, Everton can offer regular football, top-tier exposure, and a platform for development — an attractive package for a young player on the rise.
There are also suggestions that Everton have been in informal contact with Diarra’s representatives, sounding out his camp over the player’s openness to the project Moyes is building. The early response has reportedly been positive, though negotiations with Strasbourg are yet to formally begin.
Moyes’s Pull and Premier League Stability
David Moyes’s presence could also prove key in any eventual deal. The veteran manager, now in his second spell at the club, has a track record of developing young players and offering a clear tactical structure — qualities that can appeal to emerging talents like Diarra.
For Moyes, Diarra would be the type of signing that underlines Everton’s intention to evolve, not just survive. Last season’s battle against the drop was the latest in a string of relegation scares, and the club are determined to move away from that cycle.
The recruitment of Diarra — young, energetic, with a high ceiling — would signal a shift in strategy from firefighting to forward-planning. It’s understood that Everton’s recruitment team are also targeting a second central midfielder this summer, with links to Real Betis’s Guido Rodríguez and Nottingham Forest’s Orel Mangala continuing to circulate.
But Diarra is now considered the priority.
Financials, FFP and the Road Ahead
Any move, of course, will need to be carefully structured. Everton remain under Financial Fair Play constraints and must balance incomings with strategic sales. The expected departure of Onana, who could fetch in excess of £45 million, would unlock room for manoeuvre and fund reinvestment in key areas.
The club are also expected to trim their wage bill further, with departures likely for fringe players such as André Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin. These moves are part of a broader plan to reshape the squad with younger, more athletic profiles — a mould Diarra fits perfectly.
Despite these limitations, Everton believe they are well-placed to get the deal done. Their Premier League status, clear need for midfield talent, and the player’s openness to a move all combine to put them in pole position.
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