Club sets £7.2m asking price as Newcastle United join Aston Villa and Wolves in 14-team transfer race

Aston Villa have been joined by a Premier League rival as the list of suitors grows in Hammarby wonderkid Bazoumana Toure.

Villa along with Spurs, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Wolves, Sheffield United, Leeds United, and Celtic have all reportedly had scouts in attendance to watch over the player. It has been claimed that Arsenal and Manchester United as well as German duo Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt have also been credited with watching over the youngster.

TBR (The Boot Room) have since revealed that Newcastle United have joined the race to sign Traore. According to Swedish newspaper Sportbladet as per FotbollTransfers, Hammarby hopes to get over 100 million kroner Toure, which roughly comes to about £7.2m or €8.6m, whilst the Mirror claims he is valued at £5m.

Traore has had a stellar season for Hammarby, having registered nine goals and four assists in 21 matches. He's only been with the Swedish club since March, having joined from ASEC Mimosas in the Ivory Coast.

He's yet to make his debut for the Ivory Coast national team but a call-up can't be too far away with his form hard to ignore. A move to a Premier League club in the January transfer window could be his ticket to making it on the international stage.

Any club interested in Traore though will have to persuade Hammarby to part ways with their bright young talent. He's under contract with the Allsvenskan outfit until December 2028, and so there is some leverage on their part.

The most Hammarby have sold a play for was €5.70m, having sold Nathaiel Adeji to French club Lorient. They have done business with English clubs in the past after selling goalkeeper Oliver Dovin to Coventry City this summer.

Traore's club Hammarby still have two league games to play as they bid for a UEFA Conference League spot. Malmo wrapped up the league title, but right now Hammarby need to ensure that AIK or Djurgarden don't overtake them.