ChronicleLive
Newcastle United midfielder Mo Diame in on the verge of moving to the Qatar Stars League, according to reports in the Gulf.
The 31-year-old did not feature on the Magpies' retained list when it was confirmed last week, though it is understood that Rafa Benitez is keen for Diame to stay on Tyneside if the manager signs a new deal himself.
However, as things stand the Senegalese midfielder will be a free agent by the end of the month, and Qatari media outlets claim that Diame is set to join Al-Gharafa.
It is reported that Diame has already arrived in the Qatari capital of Doha and that he is set to undergo a medical in the Middle East in the coming days.
The Al Rayyan-based outfit are managed by former Algeria and Rennes coach Christian Gourcuff - and their former players include Ze Roberto and Marcel Desailly, while Wesley Sneijder is still at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium.
Diame's Newcastle contract expires on June 30 and he has so far rejected the option of a one-year extension, having failed to trigger the clause in his deal which would have automatically given him another 12 months at United.
With clubs in Europe, the Premier League and the Championship also interested in the powerful defensive-midfielder, Diame wanted a two-year extension in order to offer himself some security.
However, Newcastle have not yet sanctioned awarding any longer than a 12-month deal for a player in his early-30s - and, while Benitez is receptive to keeping Diame, the midfielder is likely to depart, unless new owners arrive at St James' Park and re-open talks with the former Senegal international, or depending on who is in the home dugout on Tyneside next season.
After arriving from Hull City for £4.5million during the summer of 2016, Diame helped United win promotion from the Championship by primarily operating as a No 10.
Over the next two seasons, he performed well in a defensive-midfield role in the Premier League, and if he is to leave Newcastle he will do so having scored eight goals in 103 appearances.