ONE OF THE MOST CRAZIEST TRANSFER WINDOW FOR NEWCASTLE UNITED AS ALREADY CAUGHT THE EYES AND ATTENTION OF EVERYONE WITH QUEST TO KEEP PRIZED STILL IN DOUBT
Liverpool are reportedly gearing up for another attempt to sign Anthony Gordon this summer. Sources indicate that Newcastle United have set a price for the deal, and manager Arne Slot is prepared to reassign another high-value player to accommodate the arrival of the England winger.
Liverpool recently engaged in discussions with their Premier League rivals about the possibility of bringing Gordon back to Merseyside. With Newcastle needing to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), they explored the idea of selling the 23-year-old to Liverpool. However, the initial fee was deemed too high for Liverpool, and they also rejected Newcastle’s proposal to include Jarell Quansah as part of the deal. As a result, the negotiations between the two clubs did not progress further. Instead, Newcastle addressed their financial concerns by securing deals to sell Elliott Anderson to Nottingham Forest for £35m and Yankuba Minteh to Brighton for £30m.
Despite the stalled talks, journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that Liverpool’s interest in Gordon is far from over. Gordon, who grew up supporting Liverpool and started his football journey in their academy before moving to Everton at the age of 11, is reportedly open to the idea of returning to his boyhood club. While he is currently content at St James’ Park, the prospect of rejoining Liverpool is something he would welcome.
On the other hand, Newcastle United are determined to keep Gordon. The winger had an outstanding first full season on Tyneside, scoring 12 goals, providing 11 assists, and winning several penalties. His impressive performances earned him the club’s player of the year title and a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad. As a result, Newcastle value Gordon at a minimum of £70m to £80m, a significant increase from their initial £45m investment.
Transfer journalist Pete O’Rourke suggests that Newcastle might still be compelled to sell Gordon if he makes it clear that he wants to move to Anfield. While manager Eddie Howe is planning for the new season with Gordon as a key part of his plans, a substantial offer, potentially exceeding £100m with add-ons, could prompt Newcastle to consider a sale.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot remains highly interested in Gordon. Reports indicate that Slot has warmed to the idea of signing the winger and is keen to bolster his attacking options. However, Liverpool is also evaluating other potential targets. Recent reports suggest that the club is considering a £172m-rated attacking trio as alternatives to Gordon.
In addition to the potential signing of Gordon, Liverpool is also planning to make room for a new winger by moving Cody Gakpo to a different position next summer. Gakpo, who joined Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023 for an initial £37m, rising to £40m, has been a valuable asset for the team. He has scored 23 goals and provided nine assists in 77 appearances. Despite his contributions, Gakpo has not fully reached the expected heights, largely due to sharing attacking responsibilities with other quality players at Anfield.
Gakpo’s performances at Euro 2024 have been impressive. Playing primarily as an inverted winger on the left, he has scored three goals and provided one assist in four matches. His form has been a key factor in the Netherlands’ success, and they face a challenging quarter-final match against Turkey. Slot has expressed his hope that Gakpo will continue to excel and play a central role in the Netherlands’ campaign, with potential semi-final opponents including England or Switzerland.
Discussing Gakpo’s form at Euro 2024, Slot stated on Friday, “I am hoping he will step up even more. We are hoping and expecting him to do even better. He has been impressive and had a good tournament so far.”
In summary, Liverpool is actively pursuing the signing of Anthony Gordon, with Arne Slot ready to adjust his squad to fit the England winger. While Newcastle is keen to retain Gordon, they might be forced to sell if a significant offer comes in and if Gordon expresses a desire to move to Anfield. Concurrently, Liverpool is considering other attacking options and planning positional changes for Cody Gakpo to optimize their squad for the upcoming season.