Newcastle close to signing Hoffenheim winger Toure as Tonali funds reshape squad

Newcastle United are closing in on the signing of Bazoumana Toure from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim, with the 20-year-old winger understood to be on the verge of a medical at St James’ Park.

The move is made possible in large part by Newcastle’s £100 million agreement to sell Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur — a deal that will make Tonali Spurs’ club record signing, at an initial £92.5 million with £7.5 million in potential add-ons. Winger Anthony Gordon has also already departed for Barcelona, leaving a significant creative vacancy in Eddie Howe’s squad.

Toure would become Newcastle’s second signing of the summer window, following young French goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen, who joined from Reims last week. According to The Athletic, Toure was identified as an attacking target after Newcastle missed out on Victor Munoz, and is expected to fill the role vacated by Gordon’s exit as a “starting-calibre” left-sided winger.

The Athletic also notes that Newcastle intend to reinvest the Tonali proceeds broadly, with Howe targeting a goalkeeper, at least one full-back, two midfielders — should Joe Willock also leave — and at least one attacker. A top-level central midfielder remains a priority given Tonali’s departure.

Toure’s path to Tyneside has been a rapid one. He moved to Europe from Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas, earning a trial with Swedish side Hammarby in Stockholm before signing with them. He made just 23 Allsvenskan appearances before Hoffenheim came calling, and has continued to develop in the Bundesliga since.

His international career is equally young: Toure made his senior debut for Ivory Coast as recently as last October and has accumulated nine caps. His World Cup ended in the round of 32 on Tuesday when Erling Haaland’s late winner sent Norway through at the Ivory Coast’s expense, with Toure entering the match as a very late substitute at Dallas Stadium.

While Newcastle home in on their second young signing of the window, Tottenham are spending heavily across the board, adding Tonali to Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United and Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for a combined outlay north of £200 million.