Newcastle United are pressing ahead in their efforts to land new players for Eddie Howe.
Talks are ongoing over Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi and they are emerging as frontrunners for Ivory Coast winger Bazoumana Toure.
Box to box midfielder Manzambi plays for Freiburg in Germany and has caught the eye at the World Cup with his brace of goals against Bosnia and man of the match performance plus another strike in his country’s 2-1 win over Canada.
Manzambi is only 20 and viewed as having a very bright future. He was named the Europa League Young Player of the Season after Freiburg lost to Aston Villa in the final.
Newcastle are now favourites to land 20-year-old Ivory Coast winger Bazoumana Toure
Toure is another 20-year-old who plays in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim.
He plays as an inverted left winger. Fast and good in one on ones Toure would be viewed as a replacement for Anthony Gordon who was sold to Barcelona.
Newcastle have also asked about Archie Gray’s situation in talks with Tottenham over Sandro Tonali – but sources say they have stopped short of making a bid.
Tonali remains hopeful they can reach agreement on his fee after indicating to Roberto de Zerbi that he wishes to join Spurs.
Talks are still ongoing on that front, with Newcastle awaiting improved figures.
