Newcastle are studying a formal bid to sign the £43m star

Sunburn, unbearable heat waves and failed transmissions. Eddie Howe must despise the summer. The Newcastle United manager has endured a difficult time over the past 12 months and looks set to be stuck on a disastrous Groundhog Day at St James’ Park.

Over the past 12 months, the Magpies have been reeling from the big exit and have missed out on their top targets to replace that big exit. What followed was a terrible campaign in the recruitment department and on the pitches.

A year later, lightning has struck for the second time, Anthony Gordon is heading to Barcelona and Newcastle are still in a rush to find a replacement.

Newcastle are preparing to sign a new replacement for Gordon

In an ideal world, Newcastle would have Victor Munoz right now.

But in that ideal world, their transfer rivalry with Liverpool doesn’t exist. Just like last summer, when Anfield officials splashed the cash on Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, the Reds shocked those on Tyneside by hijacking their pursuit of Munoz, who couldn’t refuse.

It put Newcastle back on the drawing board, where options like Said El Mala threatened to steal the headlines. The FC Koln winner is fresh off an impressive season and is only 19 years old.

The Bundesliga is becoming a place to watch impressive young players. Liverpool’s top target, Yan Diomande, looks set for Paris Saint-Germain in a move that could cost more than £100m, while St James’ Park are also eyeing another star from Germany’s top flight.

According to Africa Foot, Newcastle are now studying an ‘official offer’ to sign Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim this summer.

The quick, direct winger is valued at an estimated €50m (£43m) in Germany and has attracted interest from Brentford, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester United.

The 20-year-old is undoubtedly one to watch, especially if the Magpies make their move as expected. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time they’ve welcomed such talent in recent years.

Why Toure could be a duplicate of Newcastle’s Osula

It wasn’t long ago that Osula looked destined for the Tyneside exit. It was hard to imagine the world in which he grew into the player many believed he could be. Those doubts have been put to rest, however.

The former Sheffield United man lived life last season, scoring seven Premier League goals with five of those coming in the last seven games of the campaign. The raw talent suddenly became something to watch and Toure can now follow that same path.

Describing his key features, European football expert Bence Bocsak comments: “It’s hard for him to stop because he’s strong, he uses his body well, and he can also accelerate – one of the fastest in the top five leagues in Europe at the moment which gives him a big chance.

“But the key is his first touch and positioning, Toure gets the ball just as well, he gets forward and moves well on the ball when his team has the ball to find himself in space.”

Like Osula, Toure clearly has that raw ability to produce something special without having the tactical discipline of an experienced player. But that will come later as he is starting to do that in Osula’s game.

Just last season, the Hoffenheim man showed why he was on Newcastle’s radar – completing 48 dribbles and scoring nine goals in the Bundesliga.

Toure will not only replicate Osula, but will also be an excellent partner for the Newcastle striker, who was ill last season.

Combine Toure’s creative ability with Osula’s finishing and Howe could have the solution to the Magpies’ attacking woes this summer.