OPINION
Newcastle United must hijack Burnley’s reported pursuit of FC Nantes midfielder Abdoulaye Toure as he would be the ideal replacement for Isaac Hayden.
According to L’Equipe the 24-year-old midfield powerhouse could join the Premier League this summer as Sean Dyche’s side have begun talks with Nantes in order to attempt to secure his services.
The French publication stated that Burnley were set to bid somewhere between £8.8million and £10.6million for his services and were even openly offering the player a five-year deal in order to sign on with them.
The Magpies must swiftly spoil their Premier League rivals plans to sign Toure as if Rafa Benitez’s side successfully captured his services then he would swiftly be able to replace Hayden in his squad.
Benitez faces a battle to hold on to his current defensive midfielder in this window as the player has submitted a transfer request, as reported by the Daily Mirror,as he wants to play for a club situated closer to his family.
Hayden no matter the Magpies’ efforts is still likely to seek an exit as whatever the club do, he will still want to be in a situation where he can regularly go home to his young family.
Given that the Chronicle previously reported that Brighton were willing to pay £10million to take Hayden off the Magpies’ hand, then replacing him with a player that potentially costs less is a deal within the Magpies’ reach.
Toure had a fabulous season for Nantes in his 2017/18 campaign as he regularly stole the show as he powerfully dictated the tempo of the game and won the battle in midfield during his 38 performances for them.
There’s no reason to suggest that the 6ft 2in midfielder (Transfermarkt) would struggle in England’s top-flight as his no-nonsense physical style of football would make him a natural in the division.
Therefore the Magpies must quickly hijack Burnley’s pursuit of Toure in order to sign him for themselves as it would allow Hayden to leave the club as the ideal replacement would have arrived.
