Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has refused to rule out late approaches for his key attackers, including Liverpool target Anthony Gordon. The Magpies have been unable to flaunt their vast wealth this summer and will have to rely on big-money sales to fund future transfer splurges.
Gordon is one of Newcastle's most valuable assets and, in Liverpool, they have an interested party. It seems unlikely that the Reds will end their quiet summer by breaking the bank for Gordon, but Howe could not categorically say that last-minute bids will not be made.
"I have been in the game too long to make those statements," he said. "What I will say is, from my part and the club’s part, we will do everything we can to keep our best players, but I am not a fortune teller. As managers, we learn to live with it in this world because we have to. But it's not ideal, there is a lot going on."
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Gordon enjoyed the best season of his career in 2023/24, scoring 11 Premier League goals and earning himself a spot in the England squad that went all the way to the Euros final.
The 23-year-old, who cut his teeth in Everton's academy, is believed to have admirers in high places at Anfield. Howe is keen for the window to shut so that Gordon and the rest of his sought-after players can focus solely on performing in the Premier League.
"You can't change the player being affected by what they read and what he takes in," he continued. "And suddenly a whole thought process goes away from what he needs to focus on which is the next training session and the next game.
"So, the better the player can block it the better you will be as a team, but it is certainly unsettling depending on how much noise there is around that player."
Liverpool were expected to back their new manager, Arne Slot, with squad improvements this summer but they are yet to make a single signing. Meanwhile Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho have both left on permanent deals, Joel Matip was released and Thiago Alcantara retired.
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It would likely take a huge bid to lure Gordon away from St. James' Park given that Newcastle forked out £45million to sign him from the Toffees 18 months ago.
But the winger is rumoured to be a Liverpool fan, and he sent fans into a frenzy earlier this year when, in response to which stadium is his favourite to play in, he told Channel 4: "Other than St. James', it is Anfield. By far. Maybe it is because I’m from the city and grew up watching it but I just think before the game when they sing You’ll Never Walk Alone, it’s top. Top level."
