Newcastle United are reportedly expected to sign Yannick Toure this summer, with the Magpies having high hopes in regards to his potential.
The Chronicle reports that Rafa Benitez is eyeing a revamp of the academy at St James’ Park with Newcastle struggling to bring players right through the system – Paul Dummett is noted in the report to be the only current first-team player to come right through the ranks.
And while a full revamp of the system is likely to take significant time, the Chronicle suggests that a deal to sign Toure from the Swiss side is likely to take place this summer, and Newcastle believe that the teenager has serious potential.
Toure has enjoyed a promising time with Young Boys’ second string side, having scored six goals in seven games in the fourth tier of Swiss football. That kind of record – given the level that the goals came at – is unlikely to leave Magpies supporters getting too carried away, but it does show that there is a goalscorer in there.
With Newcastle showing over the last few windows that they are not able to compete with the biggest-spending sides in the Premier League, it is not a surprise that Benitez is considering doing more with the academy to give them a better chance of competing.
And while the news that Toure looks set to become a Newcastle player may not exactly capture the Toon Army’s imagination, perhaps they can take some comfort from the fact that Benitez’s desire to change the structure at St James’ just provides the slightest hint that he is confident that he could be at Newcastle for a significant period of time.
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