Anthony Gordon penned fresh terms at Newcastle just 12 months ago, with the agreement between the England international and the Magpies safeguarding his worth across a “long-term” timeframe. Once again, Gordon found himself linked with Liverpool at the weekend, with speculation surrounding the Kirkdale-born talent potentially becoming Mohamed Salah’s eventual replacement.
What remains evident is Newcastle’s unwillingness to part with their prized assets—that message resonates from the highest echelons at St James’ Park through to PIF’s prestigious headquarters in Riyadh. During the summer of 2024, circumstances differed on Tyneside, and like several valuable squad players, Gordon’s name featured in discussions that might have seen Jarell Quansah move to the North East while the attacker returned home.
Facing the threat of a PSR-imposed points penalty, Newcastle were forced to evaluate every hint of interest available but navigated the crisis by offloading Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh – though reluctantly.
Predictably, observers will reference the Alexander Isak departure as a template for Gordon and question whether that route stays open for another unwelcome transaction.
Gordon has never shied away from acknowledging the Liverpool speculation and revealed earlier this year: “I had the transfer stuff. With PSR, I thought I was going to leave at some point in the window. It didn’t happen. I had to get my head around that to begin with, and then to get my head around it again was hard.”
The reality is that Newcastle would never have let Isak go if he hadn’t gone on strike and Liverpool hadn’t offered a whopping £130m deal. It was entirely Isak’s decision to leave the Magpies, and while it now seems like a better deal for Newcastle than for Liverpool, there has been no indication from within St James’ Park that they would allow Gordon to follow suit.
At present, Gordon is getting everything he needs at Newcastle and has the opportunity to shine and secure his place in the England squad for next summer’s tournament across the Atlantic. He has the backing of Eddie Howe and his coaching team, he’s earning England caps every month, and he’s playing on the Champions League stage he’s always wanted.
Newcastle were keen to put an end to any talk of Liverpool last autumn when they gave Gordon a new contract, with both Howe and then sporting director Paul Mitchell joining him for the announcement. It’s worth noting that Mitchell had declined to do the same for Isak, which marked the beginning of his discontent and eventual departure.
However, Gordon is seen as something of a golden boy at St James’, a symbol that the ambitious Saudi owners are not just recruiting future stars, but also established internationals who are reaching their prime today.
Gordon addressed his current situation last summer at the Suwon World Cup Stadium during pre-season.
He confided: “I’m not linked to any clubs and I’m very happy where I am. I’m enjoying my football again, and I feel refreshed.
“I feel like I’ve got that hunger and that bite back that makes me a good player. I didn’t have that last year, and that was because of the drainage of three years of constantly playing games, the noise around me. I had no rest.
“After the 21s Euros (2023) I had four days off. Last summer, I had just over a week off, plus all the noise.”
The “noise” he refers to is the Liverpool saga, a deal that was discussed but never materialised. Any transfer fee for Gordon, who reportedly has half a decade left on his current contract, would exceed £100m.
Are Liverpool genuinely interested?
He’s a player they’ve always admired, but Chronicle Live claim that they haven’t recently scouted him at games.
However, things can change quickly in football. Newcastle’s position remains clear: Gordon is not for sale.
Despite the potential for rapid changes in the transfer market, Gordon is content where he is and enjoying his football once more.
Newcastle will need to demonstrate their ambition, both in the transfer market and on the pitch. However, currently, their best shot at attracting top talent and making strides in the Premier League lies with their 24-year-old star.
Recall the words of the player himself if you have any doubts. Just eight weeks ago, he declared: “All I care about is Newcastle. The way I got into the England squad was playing for Newcastle.”
