Newcastle readying official bid to sign £43m star

Sun burn, unbearable heatwaves and failed transfers. Eddie Howe must despise the summer. The Newcastle United boss has endured a wretched time over the last 12 months and looks to be stuck in a nightmare Groundhog Day at St James’ Park.

12 months ago, the Magpies were reeling from a major exit and missed out on their top targets to replace that major exit. What followed was a disastrous campaign in the recruitment department and on the pitch.

One year later, lightning has struck for a second time, with Anthony Gordon heading to Barcelona and Newcastle desperately scrambling to find a replacement.

Newcastle readying move to sign fresh Gordon replacement

In an ideal world, Newcastle would have Victor Munoz right now.

But in that ideal world, their transfer rivalry with Liverpool doesn’t exist. Just like last summer, when Anfield chiefs splashed the cash on Alexander Isak and then Hugo Ekitike, the Reds shocked those on Tyneside by hijacking their pursuit of Munoz, who could not say no.

It sent Newcastle back to the drawing board, where options like Said El Mala have threatened to steal the headlines. The FC Koln winger is fresh from a superb season and is still just 19 years old.

The Bundesliga is becoming the place to watch for impressive young wingers, too. Liverpool’s top target, Yan Diomande, looks set for Paris Saint-Germain in a move likely to cost over £100m, whilst those at St James’ Park also have their sights set on another star from Germany’s top division.

According to Africa Foot, Newcastle are now readying an ‘official offer’ to sign Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim this summer.

The quick, direct winger is valued at around €50m (£43m) in Germany and has attracted serious interest from Brentford, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester United.

The 20-year-old is undoubtedly one to watch, especially if the Magpies make their move as expected. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time that they’ve welcomed such a raw talent in recent years.

Why Toure could be an Osula repeat for Newcastle

It wasn’t so long ago that Osula looked destined for the exit door on Tyneside. It was hard to imagine a world in which he developed into the player many believed he could be. Those doubts have since been put to bed, however.

The former Sheffield United man burst into life last season, scoring seven Premier League goals with five of those coming in his final seven games of the campaign. A raw talent suddenly became one to watch and Toure can now follow that same path.

Describing his core attributes, European football expert Bence Bocsak notes: “He’s hard to stop because physically he’s quite strong, uses his body very well, and he is also able to accelerate very rapidly – one of the fastest in Europe’s top five leagues right now which gives him a massive advantage.

“But the key is his first touch and positioning, Toure receives the ball really well on a consistent basis, he’s front-footed and has good movement off the ball while his team is in possession to find himself in space.”

Like Osula, Toure evidently has that raw ability to produce something special without necessarily having the tactical discipline of an experienced player. That, however, will come with time as it is beginning to do so in Osula’s game.

Just last season, the Hoffenheim man showcased exactly why he’s on Newcastle’s radar – completing 48 dribbles and creating nine goals in the Bundesliga.

Toure would not only be a repeat of Osula, but he’d also be an excellent partner for the Newcastle forward, who was clinical at times last season.

Combine Toure’s ability to create with Osula’s finishing and Howe may just have a solution for the Magpies’ attacking problems this summer.