Published Jul 26, 2026, 7:10 PM GMT+1

Ethan is a feature and opinion journalist at Football FanCast.

He studied Football Journalism at the University of Derby, undertaking roles such as media assistant for Non-League side Mickleover Sports and EFL reporter for VAVEL.

Upon graduating in 2023, Ethan spent six months at GRV Media as a Premier League journalist, before joining FootballFanCast in February 2024.

Ethan is an avid Nottingham Forest supporter and season ticket holder, who also holds a keen interest in Formula One.

He covers a host of sides from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, to Leeds and clubs across the Midlands such as Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa. He particularly enjoys producing analytical content.

Eddie Howe’s men have been ransacked over recent months, as the likes of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have both left St James’ Park to join Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur, respectively.

Bruno Guimarães is also hugely touted with a move to join Arsenal this summer, which has seen the Brazilian international even stating his desire to join the Gunners.

Despite huge funds being brought into Tyneside, the Magpies have often missed out on key transfer targets, but the hierarchy have managed to secure the signature of one exciting talent.

How Bazoumana Toure can become a fan-favourite at Newcastle

After Gordon’s departure from Newcastle this summer, it was crucial that the hierarchy invested the funds back into the squad to hand Howe the platform needed for success.

Bazoumana Touré arrived on Tyneside in a deal worth a reported £42m, with the 20-year-old a player for the club’s immediate and long-term future.

The Ivorian international is an unknown quantity to many Magpies supporters, but what exactly could he add to the club’s attack throughout the 2026/27 campaign?

He featured 30 times in the Bundesliga for Hoffenheim last season, subsequently scoring five times and laying on nine assists - a tally higher than that of the recently departed Gordon.

Toure completed an impressive tally of 1.8 successful dribbles and 1.7 chances created per 90 - with his direct dribbling ability able to get fans off their seat at St James’ Park.

Even without the ball, the Ivorian has demonstrated his quality, as seen by his tally of 4.9 ball recoveries per 90 - which could make him a huge asset to Howe’s men in and out of possession.

He’s undoubtedly got huge boots to fill on Tyneside this campaign, with the supporters potentially needing to be patient with the youngster before allowing him to flourish.

How Newcastle can land a bigger talent than Toure this summer

Despite the big-money move for Toure earlier this window, Newcastle still appear to be on the hunt for added reinforcements within attacking areas of the pitch.

Such a move is hardly a surprise considering Howe’s men netted 15 fewer goals last term compared to the year before when they secured a return to the Champions League.

Countless names have been floating around in recent times, with RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa a player who continues to be strongly linked with a move to Tyneside.

Corriere della Sera have confirmed via Sport Witness that Roma are another team keen on landing the Norwegian star, but the Magpies are currently leading the race for his signature.

They also claim that the Bundesliga outfit are reluctant to let the attacker leave this summer, but could consider offers in and around the €60m (£51m) mark.

Like Toure, Nusa may be an unknown prospect to many Magpies supporters, but he’s a player who’s become a huge attacking talent in the Bundesliga over recent seasons.

When comparing the Leipzig star’s stats to those of the new Newcastle addition, he managed to outperform him in countless key areas for an attacker.

Whilst the 21-year-old may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, he did achieve a better minute per goal contribution record - having featured for fewer minutes last term.

He also managed to complete nearly two times more successful dribbles per 90 than Toure, with his tally of 3.2 ranking him above 95% of other attackers in Europe’s top-five leagues.

Nusa’s tally of 2.1 chances created per 90 further showcases his tremendous ability within attacking areas, which could see him become Howe’s starting left-winger upon any move to Tyneside.

Both players featured at the World Cup for their respective nations, but it was the Norwegian who managed to produce the better displays in the United States.

The Leipzig star outscored the Ivorian during such a competition, subsequently backing up Antonio Mango’s praise, which saw him be labelled a “phenomenal” talent.

£51m would be yet another statement deal for the Magpies this summer, but it’s one which could hand Howe the added attacking reinforcements he’s craving this window.

Toure and Nusa would no doubt fight it out for the starting position off the left-side of the attack, but it should be the latter who is given the nod at St James’ Park.