Bazoumana Toure is close to a switch to Newcastle United – as the Magpies look to make a quick follow up on their £100m sale of Sandro Tonali.
SportForge has been told that United intend to bring in younger players of high potential and that Hoffenheim winger Toure is in advanced talks over a move.
The left winger is believed to be a replacement for Anthony Gordon as Newcastle look to reinvest after selling Tonali. Toure was eliminated from the World Cup with Ivory Coast on Tuesday, and Newcastle have moved quickly to tie up a deal.
A fee of £42million has been mentioned by some sources, with a medical booked in should they agree terms.
Last season in the Bundesliga, Toure scored five goals and laid on nine assists in 29 starts for Hoffenheim.
Club chiefs are aware of a backlash after Tonali’s sale and talk that club captain Bruno Guimaraes will leave and are looking to push out some much needed positive PR.
United are cautious on Toure as the deal is not yet done but hope they can clinch the star’s signature.
Newcastle also have Johan Manzambi of Freiburg and Tottenham’s Archie Gray on their radar. Despite reports that Newcastle had bid for Gray earlier on Wednesday, Spurs denied they’d received an offer but Newcastle are keen on the ex-Leeds man.
The Magpies never shirked talk that they would sell Tonali. When asked if Newcastle would sell the Italian this summer, CEO David Hopkinskon said three months ago: “We think through what players might or might not want to do this summer.
“But if an Isak-like scenario presents itself again, any player under contract is going to leave on our terms and we’re going to maximise the opportunity that might represent for the club.”
