Newcastle United are closing in on the signing of Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Toure, with the Ivory Coast international set to become the club's first outfield arrival of the summer. News emerged on Wednesday evening that the Magpies had struck an agreement with the Bundesliga side, with the 20-year-old, who bagged five goals and 12 assists in all competitions last season, expected to make the move to St James' Park. He is believed to have arrived on Tyneside after jetting in last night and is now going through the usual transfer formalities, including his medical.
Replacing Anthony Gordon
After missing out on a deal for Victor Munoz and being linked with a whole host of players, Toure has been identified as the man to replace Anthony Gordon, after the England international winger joined Barcelona earlier this summer. Having just represented his country in the World Cup, Newcastle fans will be excited to get a glimpse of their new man in action and providing the transfer goes through without any hitches, there should be a clear plan for his integration into the Magpies squad.
Pre-Season Schedule
Newcastle's first team will return to pre-season training on Monday, July 13, and know they have pre-season matches against Darlington, Gateshead, Bristol City, Valencia, Everton and Bayer Leverkusen before finishing up against unnamed opponents at St James' Park before their Premier League opener against Liverpool on Sunday, August 23. Howe had previously confirmed that any Newcastle player who featured in the World Cup would get 'roughly three weeks' off before returning to Tyneside for pre-season action.
"It is an interesting one because it will be different with the World Cup," Howe told reporters back in May. "We plan to come back around the 13th of July which is a week longer than normal because of the World Cup. We will go away to Spain in La Manga for around 10 days so there will be no huge long flight for the players this time in line with the World Cup. With the travel those players will do we are trying to keep things really simple because we have to make sure the players are in the best physical condition. The World Cup players will get roughly around three weeks off, depending on when they exit the competition."
When Toure Could Join Teammates
Ivory Coast were beaten 2-1 by Norway in the round of 32 in Dallas on Tuesday evening which means, in theory, Toure should be in line to join his new team-mates on Wednesday, July 22. That means he could make his debut against Gateshead that weekend when the Magpies make the short journey across the River Tyne to take on their National League neighbours at the Gateshead International Stadium. Should that timeline be revised, he will definitely be available for the trip to Bristol City on Wednesday, July 29, and the pre-season training camp in La Manga, Spain, beyond that which should give Eddie Howe plenty of time to work with him ahead of the start of the season.
