As the new Premier League season approaches, transfer rumours are everywhere.
One name, in particular, has been at the centre of speculation.
Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon.
The 23-year-old Englishman has been linked with a move to Liverpool throughout the summer, but Newcastle’s manager, Eddie Howe, has recently provided an update that sheds light on how complex the situation is.
With his noteworthy season showing him score 11 goals and provide 10 assists in 35 matches, interest in Gordon from outside the Tyneside club was expected.
The Reds, with an eye for quality and also heavily bent on improving their squad, especially with players’ contracts like Mohammed Salah, expiring in mid-2025, saw Gordon as a valuable addition, especially after his impressive performances in the previous season.
Negotiations between the two clubs even took place as Newcastle needed to meet the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) by the end of June.
To comply, they considered offloading Gordon, a move that could have generated significant funds.
However, talks broke down when Newcastle insisted on including Liverpool’s promising young defender Jarell Quansah in the deal.
Liverpool, determined to hold onto their emerging talent, refused, and with Gordon’s transfer fee being too high for the Reds otherwise, the deal collapsed.
What did Eddie Howe say?
In a press conference ahead of Newcastle’s final pre-season friendlies, Eddie Howe addressed the situation, acknowledging the challenges faced during the transfer window.
Anfield Watch reports that he said, “No distractions.
“He’s been really impressive [in training]. His focus has been on his work and his fitness, everything to do with this football club, nothing else,
“I’m confident he is okay.
“We’ve had no conversations over the summer where it has been fractious or negative.
“He’s always been the Anthony Gordon who has given absolutely everything to Newcastle. He’s such an important player for us.
“We didn’t want to lose anybody [this summer].
“Why would we want to lose our best players?
“We fought really hard to make the right decisions in those last couple of weeks.
“The rules forced us to do things we didn’t want to do.
“It was a really difficult time; there was a lot of uncertainty, and we didn’t know what was going to happen.
“It was very, very difficult, but Anthony is an integral part of what we’re doing.
“He needs a bit of a break. He’s had a long season and the Euros will have been emotional for him as well.
“Hopefully, by the time he comes back, he’s ready to go.”
As the new season looms, Gordon seems a crucial part of Newcastle United’s plans.
While Liverpool’s interest in him may resurface in the future, Eddie Howe’s determination to retain his key players speaks volumes about Newcastle’s ambitions.
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