Newcastle complete – Newcastle have confirmed the £43million signing of Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Toure, while West Ham prepare a bid for Nottingham Forest midfielder James McAtee and Tottenham’s Radu Dragusin heads to Italy on loan with a future £15m option. Elsewhere, Brentfor
The transfer window is open and the pressure is already obvious: clubs are moving quickly, paying serious money, and testing rivals before pre-season deadlines harden into reality.
Newcastle United have moved first in a major splash, completing a £43million signing for Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Toure. The deal marks another statement for a side building towards next season with clear urgency. after Newcastle had pushed ahead of Premier League rivals Brentford for the Ivory Coast international.
It is not the only domino falling. West Ham are preparing an ambitious move for Nottingham Forest midfielder James McAtee. as they step up plans for an immediate return to the Premier League. The Hammers believe the 23-year-old can be a key midfield replacement after the £85 million sale of Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham.
McAtee was one of Nuno Espirito Santo’s first signings for Nottingham Forest. arriving in a £30million deal. and although his game time was limited last season. he remains highly regarded at the club. West Ham’s recruitment team. led by new Director of Player Recruitment Nils Koppen. are said to have McAtee high on their shortlist. with the expectation that Oliver Glasner’s preferred system will give him space to operate alongside Morgan Gibbs-White as part of a setup featuring two attacking midfielders.
Forest also see the move in a different way, pointing to McAtee’s recent success with the England U21s. Just over a year ago. he helped them win the UEFA European U21 Championship. and the current group of England senior World Cup squad members includes former teammates Elliot Anderson. Jarell Quansah and James Trafford. Forest want to protect McAtee’s momentum and value, feeling reluctant to sell before it peaks. West Ham. however. are preparing to test that resolve with substantial funds expected to be available. including shareholder Daniel Kretinsky’s planned injection over the coming weeks.
The timing matters for West Ham’s wider plans too. They also expect to sell Crysencio Summerville for over £50m, and are discussing other targets including Famalicao midfielder Gustavo Sa and Troyes’ Martin Adeline, along with Everton winger Dwight McNeil.
Further north, Tottenham’s business is taking a different shape: Radu Dragusin is set for Italy. The defender is joining Fiorentina on loan with a view to a permanent move, after he asked to leave for more regular game time and in light of Spurs’ recent acquisitions at centre-back.
The deal is still being finalised, but it is expected to begin as an initial loan with a fee of £1million, before a permanent transfer worth £15m. Tottenham also retain a ten percent sell-on clause on any profit Fiorentina make on a future sale. Dragusin is due to have a medical next week.
In England’s west, Brentford have agreed a deal to bring in more attacking options. The club have struck an agreement with Burnley for winger Jaidon Anthony in a £17million package. Brentford will pay an initial £15m, with a further £2m in add-ons.
Anthony is set to undergo a medical early next week, and Brentford hope to complete the move by Tuesday. Burnley’s other links have also surfaced: Brentford have tried for Cologne’s Said El Mala and have shown they like Burnley winger Zian Flemming.
Taken together, the moves underline how quickly clubs are trying to lock in their choices. Newcastle have secured Toure for £43million. West Ham are preparing to push for McAtee as they plan for a Premier League return. Tottenham are sending Dragusin to Fiorentina with a clear path to a £15m permanent transfer. and Brentford have moved to bring Anthony into the squad—each deal tightening the timetable for everyone else still looking for the right fit.
Newcastle Bazoumana Toure West Ham James McAtee Nottingham Forest Tottenham Radu Dragusin Fiorentina Brentford Jaidon Anthony Burnley transfer window
£43m is wild. Newcastle really just said “bet” huh.
So West Ham wants McAtee like after that big sale to Spurs? I swear every team is buying everyone’s midfield now. Also the Italy loan thing for Dragusin… is that like a punishment or what.
Toure from Hoffenheim for 43 mil sounds like they’re paying for highlights, not actual games. And they mention Ivory Coast international like that explains everything lol. I read “future £15m option” and thought it meant Newcastle only pays 15 later, but maybe that’s not it.
Transfer window is open and suddenly everyone’s “moving fast” like it’s not always like this. Feels like Brentford and Newcastle just race each other every summer. Meanwhile Forest is “seeing the move differently” which is code for they’re mad right? Not even gonna lie, I got lost when they started talking about England U21s and a former teammate being on the World Cup squad…