€40m market value
Newcastle reach agreement for winger Bazoumana Touré – Inside track from Germany
©TM/IMAGO
It's been a tough transfer window for Newcastle fans so far. Firstly, Anthony Gordon sealed an €80 million switch to Barcelona, with star midfielder Sandro Tonali now also agreeing a deal to Tottenham for a fee expected to be €108m. Whilst the Magpies are recouping significant fees, that won’t bring much solace to the Geordie faithful who are seeing many of their star players move on. Midfielder Bruno Guimarães has also been linked with a move to Arsenal. However, there is now some positive news the other way, with Newcastle agreeing a €50m fee for exciting young winger Bazoumana Touré.
Stats
B. Touré
Left Winger
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
45
5
15
The 20-year-old is expected to fly to Tyneside for a medical this Thursday as Newcastle look to secure their second summer signing, following the arrival of 20-year-old goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen from Stade Reims. Toure has a current market value of €40m. Following Ivory Coast’s elimination from the World Cup against Norway, Newcastle accelerated their move for the Ivorian left-winger. Last season in the Bundesliga, Toure scored five goals and provided nine assists in 29 starts for Hoffenheim. But what can he bring to St James’ Park? Let’s cross to our team in Germany to find out.
Inside track from Germany on Bazoumana Toure
Lennart Gens is one of Transfermarkt's Content Managers in Germany and has been watching Touré closely. He tells us more about his time in the Bundesliga: “Touré arrived in Germany from Sweden a year and a half ago as a highly rated prospect and took six months to find his feet. Last season, however, he was one of the key figures in Hoffenheim’s attack. He played a major part in Hoffenheim qualifying for the Europa League, rather than fighting against relegation as they had the previous year.
"At 20, Toure has not yet reached the end of his development, but this season he was already one of the best – or perhaps even the best – attacking player at the club. Nevertheless, I think he will need a little time to settle into the Premier League – he shouldn’t be seen as a future Ballon d’Or candidate. Despite his good scoring record, there were also some games where he was barely visible. At the World Cup, too, he lost his place in the starting line-up for the Ivory Coast and only managed 24 minutes of playing time across the last three matches."
So, what are Touré's strengths and weaknesses? "Touré is a classic winger: fast, agile, good at dribbling, with good technique," explains Gens. "His finishing still needs work and his decision-making could be significantly better. Physically, he has made a significant leap forward over the last year, which is why I wouldn’t rule out him adapting to the Premier League. He’ll still need some time to settle in, though. Touré’s style of play bears a definite resemblance to that of his compatriot Yan Diomande, which was probably also the reason why he didn’t play a major role at the World Cup. His style of play also reminds me of Moussa Diaby, who moved from Leverkusen to the Premier League but was never among the best wingers there."
Is Touré ready to succeed in the high demands of the Premier League – Gens isn't so sure. "If I had to make up my mind, I’d probably say no. In recent years, a number of superstars from the Bundesliga have struggled in the Prem, and Touré has only just completed one full season, which was good but not outstanding. At the age of 20, however, he certainly still has enough potential to prove me wrong. To do so, though, he’s likely to need 1-2 seasons to reach his peak."
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