Newcastle United haven't had the most productive youth system over the past few decades, but that's not to say that PIF are neglecting St. James' Park's lower levels.

Far from it. In fact, the Tynesiders have sought to make gains in that regard, and that can certainly be felt after a disruptive summer transfer window.

The superstars have flown the nest, and Matthias Jaissle has taken the reins of a Newcastle side with a fresh and youthful look. This summer, the Magpies exclusively signed players aged 24 and under.

That shift in strategy can be embodied, perhaps, by Bazoumana Toure's arrival as Anthony Gordon's ostensible replacement.

Why Toure was picked to replace Gordon

This summer, there was something of an exodus at Newcastle, and Gordon was the first to go.

The 25-year-old signed for Barcelona in a £69m deal, replacing Marcus Rashford after La Blaugrana opted against making the Manchester United's loan move a permanent deal.

Gordon walks with a superstar swagger. He is undoubtedly talented and plays with a vibrancy and tenacity that not many wingers can emulate in the same way. However, he has scored six goals across each of his past two Premier League seasons, and certainly didn't sustain his form at all times for the Toon.

In that, perhaps Toure is a fantastic replacement. The 20-year-old arrived from Hoffenheim in Gordon's stead this summer. It was a £43m deal for the Ivory Coast winger, and though he is still settling in, he scored a consolation goal during that Leeds United hammering, also bagging in the Carabao Cup against West Bromwich Albion.

Toure is talented, but Jaissle isn't quite sure that he is ready for consistent starting action in the Premier League. It looks like Harvey Barnes will continue as the club's star left-sider for now.

That said, there is actually another challenger for that berth, and he's arriving next year.

Newcastle's next Gordon is already on the books

Toure will be expected to grow into his skin as Newcastle's Gordon replacement out on the left flank, but the jury is still out in that regard.

The young attacker will hope to nail down a starting berth soon, though, with Newcastle having also snapped talented youngster Antonio Cordero up on a free transfer last summer after his contract with Malaga expired.

Cordero, 19, had also attracted attention from heavyweights such as Barcelona and Real Madrid, but felt that St. James' Park offered the perfect platform for him to grow into his skin. In 2024/25, he scored six goals and provided seven assists over 39 matches in the Spanish second tier. He has since returned, with Cadiz snapping him up on a loan last year and keeping him there for the current campaign.

Though Spain U19 star Cordero has a distance still to travel before he can say that he is ready to start each week for Newcastle, there's no question that he has the right kind of skillset, with the "explosive left winger", as dubbed by analyst Filipe Sousa, bearing a depth of physicality and athleticism that will certainly come in handy against tough Premier League defenders.

Such a style was embodied by Gordon on Tyneside, and indeed, Como scout Ben Mattinson has also chipped in and remarked that the teenager is "like Gordon", a taller winger with versatility in his blood. He is fast and powerful and driven, all attributes that speak toward Gordon's rise to Barcelona superstardom.

The likes of Toure and Cordero are bound to jockey for Gordon's place down the line. Toure might have a head start, but if the Spaniard continues to catch the eye with Cadiz, he may well find himself earning ample opportunity to impress in 2027.

Cordero is enjoying himself out on loan this season, making all the right moves in the Spanish Segunda Division. His combative edge and willingness to engage in the duel suggests that he could be the perfect future Gordon replacement, one Jaissle and co can look forward to when he arrives next summer.