How Newcastle could immediately upgrade on Toure in the transfer window

Newcastle United are fighting hard to ward off Arsenal as the Premier League champions try and sign Bruno Guimaraes, but the Toon persuasion have something of a resigned air about them. They’ve seen this one before.

It is, sadly, still pouring at St. James’ Park, with Eddie Howe and his side being buffeted by any number of setbacks in the summer transfer window for the second year in a row.

Sandro Tonali has already been sold to Tottenham Hotspur. Fine. The Magpies have banked £100m in return, though Guimaraes’ possible exit heightens the need for new midfielders, more than just Sean Steur, a talented £23m midfielder who has joined from Ajax, but an 18-year-old midfielder nonetheless.

It’s not just the centre of the park that needs work, though. Newcastle are also on the lookout for one or two more forwards to ease the departure of focal forward Anthony Gordon.

Why Bazoumana Toure isn’t ready to replace Gordon

In Bazoumana Toure, Newcastle have signed a 20-year-old winger with plenty of potential. The Ivory Coast international is still young, though, and it might be unfair to expect him to replace and maybe upgrade on Gordon, who joined Barcelona for £69m last month.

He’s profligate in front of goal, for one thing. Newcastle lacked effective weaponry in front of goal last season, and Gordon, who only scored six times in the Premier League, assumed the role of talisman for Howe’s struggling side.

Toure will play a part, but he will not be the leading man for the Tynesiders. The electric-paced winger is raw, and he only started one game for his nation at the World Cup, still growing into his skin on that front too.

Newcastle signed Toure from Hoffenheim for £43m. He is one of the most exciting young wingers in the world, but there are levels to this game, and the Premier League will not pull any punches in trying to disrupt the young attacker in his drive to the top.

It’s time for PIF to show that they can strengthen both in the middle and up front.

How Newcastle can still replace Gordon

Toure is an exciting talent, someone who could make a difference at times next season, creating for his fellow forwards at Newcastle while bringing so much pace down the left channel.

But there’s something still missing, and according to reports in Spain, via Sport Witness, Newcastle could yet move for Abde Ezzalzouli this summer.

Ez Abde, as he is better known, has also been courted by Aston Villa this summer, but Unai Emery’s side are unwilling to meet Real Betis’ €60m (£51m) asking price, leaving the door ajar for Newcastle to establish themselves as the leading suitor.

The report suggests that Ez Abde has held a meeting with his La Liga club in recent days to determine the price through which he would be allowed to move on. Reading between the lines here, it’s clear that he hopes to leave the club, also currently learning English as he anticipates a move to the Premier League.

Ez Abde is a talented attacker. Hailed for his “relentless” running style by analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson, the Moroccan, who cruelly missed out on the World Cup because of an injury, is 24 years old and has shown in recent years a more complete package than a younger winger such as Toure.

So skilful. So stylish. So inventive. Ez Abde is all of those things, but there is substance within his game too. He has the talismanic aura about him that would see him replace Gordon – all the while allowing Toure the freedom to ease into his role down the wing.

This feels like the right move for Newcastle to make. At £51m, he would be a statement signing, but not one who would sap at the coffers. There is work to be done in midfield, after all.

The Betis man principally plays off the left, but he is willing and eager to shift into a central attacking berth too, which could see him play Gordon’s role with greater aplomb than the talented but youthful Toure.