Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe shouting and pointing from the touchline at St James' Park.

Eddie Howe is under increasing pressure at St James' Park.Imago

Newcastle's next signing couldn't be more obvious after Bazoumana Toure 'agreement'

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

Published on:

02 Jul 2026, 5:15 pm

Newcastle United's deal for Hoffenheim star Bazoumana Toure has completely out of the blue, catching many off guard.

But after five goals and nine assists in the Bundesliga last season, many at St James' Park are hoping that he can be the answer to Newcastle's attacking woes.

The 20-year-old has certainly earned his £42million move to England this summer, and he could be the perfect replacement for Anthony Gordon on the left flank.

Despite the big-money deal, Eddie Howe still have some major concerns to address across the park, so this can't be the last of the Magpies' dealings.

Full-back, midfield and centre-forward are all positions of needing to be upgraded or replaced this summer, with a whole host of exits on the cards.

Sandro Tonali looks set to join Tottenham Hotspur, while Bruno Guimaraes is the subject of interest from Arsenal, and that's without talking about Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall.

Johan Manzambi deal must be accelerated

Should the Magpies lose both Tonali and Guimaraes ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, Howe's side could be in very dangerous territory in the Premier League.

Newcastle managed to slip down to 12th in the league standings last term, and the club have already been warned of worse in the seasons to come.

That is exactly why Howe's staff need to remain active in the market, and a move for Switzerland's Johan Manzambi needs to be completed soon.

According to Ben Jacobs, Newcastle are already in "advanced talks" for the Freiburg midfielder, who has three goals and an assist at this summer's World Cup.

The highly sought-after 20-year-old notched seven goals and six assists for the German side in 2025-26, triggering interest from all across Europe.

That kind of creative spark is what Howe will be crying out for should two of his midfield trio depart the club this summer.

Eddie Howe in 'big trouble' as three more Newcastle stars likely to leave

Newcastle preparing for Tino Livramento exit as Eddie Howe identifies 'prime target'

Who else could Eddie Howe lose this summer?

There is no telling just how serious this summer could be for the Magpies, but it is all in Newcastle's hands, unless they allow others to dictate their moves.

That has already happened once, with Liverpool hijacking a deal for Victor Munoz, and Howe cannot afford for it to happen a second time.

However, it would appear that Hall is seriously considering his future, while Livramento would likely already be gone were his injury issues not so prevelent.

The striker situation should also be a huge worry. Nick Woltemade is being strongly linked with an exit and Newcastle are considering selling Yoane Wissa already.

Not only would a message be sent to the rest of the Premier League by signing these big-money players, but it would bring confidence to the rest of the squad at St James' Park.

Sandro Tonali