Newcastle target four replacements as Anthony Gordon nears £70m exit
A swift resolution to Anthony Gordon’s future will allow Newcastle United to unlock their summer spending – with a replacement for the England international and a goalkeeper now understood to be their priorities.
Gordon, who flew out to Spain on Wednesday night to complete his medical, is set to complete a £70m move to Barcelona that represents decent business for Newcastle – who knew big sales would be required to help overhaul a squad that was not fit for purpose in the second part of the season.
While there is no desire to lose their best players Magpies insiders are relaxed about the prospect of losing Gordon, which has been war-gamed for months, and see his sale as a necessary part of their new player-trading strategy.
Insiders have talked about a “re-invention” of the squad and Gordon’s sale will allow them to comply with Uefa and Premier League financial fair play regulations while freshening up a squad that has gone stale.
They have sourced a number of replacements, including carrying out checks on Lille’s exciting Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Osasuna’s Victor Munoz. Lyon’s Malick Fofana – who endured an injury-hit campaign – is another Newcastle have watched. Another possibility is Ez Abde of Real Betis, who has a £51m release clause.
They are using Gordon’s progress – as well as Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool – as part of their sales pitch to new players.
Having “clarity” on Gordon also reflects Newcastle’s desire to absorb the lessons of the damaging sale of Isak. The England winger leaves on good terms.
Newcastle’s to-do list
It’s the first sign that change is coming at Newcastle. The loss of one of their best players is far from ideal but sources have long maintained that the club must shake the tag of reluctant or “scared” sellers. The fact that they have sold to one of the biggest clubs in Europe – and not strengthened a domestic rival – is another bonus.
Really, they had little choice given Uefa financial regulations that Newcastle breached last season. The size of this sale allows the Magpies to start spending – with a goalkeeper to challenge or dislodge Nick Pope at the top of their agenda.
Newcastle intend to hit the ground running in this transfer window and insiders viewed the six-year deal that Lewis Miley signed on Monday as the first of the club’s lengthy “to-do” list this summer.
Sources indicated that they would proceed at speed in the early part of the summer and the conclusion of the Gordon deal backs up that promise. Newcastle now want to move swiftly on incoming deals.
The commitment to Miley is seen as an “indication of the direction of travel” this summer – where signing youth and potential will be at the forefront of the club’s thinking. They are seriously interested in Monaco’s Lamine Camara but there may be other exits this summer, with the lack of Champions League football a factor for some of their bigger players.
Manchester United retain interest in Sandro Tonali but Newcastle want close to £100m for the Italy midfielder. Unlike Gordon, his departure is not seen as inevitable and he may yet stay at St James’ Park.
Gordon’s sale was signposted for weeks, with the player not kicking a ball in anger since Howe announced players who weren’t committed to the cause would not feature. He did not play a minute of Newcastle’s last six games of the season.
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