Newcastle United are now looking to sign Bazoumana Toure.
The exciting young winger has been part of the Ivory Coast squad at the 2026 World Cup.
The 20-year-old winger came off the bench in the knockout match on Tuesday against Norway but couldn’t prevent their elimination from the competition in a 2-1 defeat.
The Mail now reporting that their information is that Newcastle United are the ‘frontrunners’ to sign Bazoumana Toure.
A successful year in Sweden with Hammarby ended with a then 18-year-old signing for Hoffenheim in a deal worth around £14m on 1 February 2025.
The next 16 months seeing Toure impress in 43 appearances for Hoffenheim, the young player scoring five goals and getting 12 assists so far for the German club, including playing a big role in them finishing fifth in the Bundesliga last season.
The Mail report: ‘He plays as an inverted left winger. Fast and good in one on ones Toure would be viewed as a replacement for Anthony Gordon.’
This piece from The Mail also reports that talks are ongoing for Newcastle United to sign Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi.
The interest in Manzambi was first reported by Sky Sports on Sunday, the exciting young midfielder is excelling at the World Cup after an excellent season with Freiburg. Aged only 19 when the 2025/26 Bundesliga season kicked off, Johan Manzambi was a key player as Freiburg reached the Europa League final and finished seventh in the Bundesliga. He managed 13 direct goal involvements in total last season for his club from midfield, scoring seven and getting six assists.
Sky Sports reported that the SC Freiburg midfielder is understood to be valued at £40m+.
Like Toure, Johan Manzambi is also only 20, both players having the profile that Newcastle United are said to be targeting this summer, emerging young talent on the continent.
The 20-year-old-has already scored three goals in the 2026 World Cup group stage, twice in the win over Bosnia-Herzegovina and then the winner against Canada which meant Switzerland won the group ahead of the tournament co-hosts.
He was in great demand in international terms, born in Geneva to parents who are from Angola and DR Congo. Switzerland acted swiftly to ensure Johan Manzambi would commit to them, getting his first senior cap as a 19-year-old and the now 20-year-old has already made 16 appearances for Switzerland and scored six goals. Manzambi and Switzerland take on Alegria in the early hours of Friday (UK time) for a place in the last 16 of the World Cup.