Newcastle United set to make 'top earner' offer to Liverpool transfer target
A major claim has been made about one of Newcastle United’s key players.
Newcastle United are reportedly ready to make Anthony Gordon their highest earner in a bid to retain the services of the former Everton winger.
Just over two years have passed since Gordon made a £40m move to St James Park and overcome a challenging start to life on Tyneside to become a firm fans favourite. After scoring his first Magpies goal in a 1-1 draw at Chelsea on the final day of the 2022/23 season, Gordon went on to enjoy an overwhelmingly successful first full season with Newcastle as he scored 12 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions. His form earned the 23-year-old a first senior call-up to the England squad in March and he earned his first caps in friendly meetings with Brazil and Belgium. A third cap came in a 1-0 defeat against Iceland as Gordon persuaded then-Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate to name him in his squad for last summer’s Euro 2024 finals.
However, Gordon was limited to just three minutes of game-time as England reached the final of the competition before losing to Spain. The Magpies winger returned to Tyneside for pre-season but his preparations for the new season we hampered by speculation over his future after United’s battles with the Premier League profit and sustainability regulations led them to consider selling Gordon to Liverpool. However, the former Everton man remained part of Eddie Howe’s squad when the summer transfer window came to a close and the Magpies boss has urged Gordon to ‘maximise every moment’ as he looks to play a part in what he hopes will be a successful season.
Speaking ahead of last weekend’s win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Howe said of Gordon: “I wouldn’t say to raise his spirits, but of course I spoke with him and we had many conversations over the summer. I think it’s re-aligning thought processes, it’s being positive about the next stage of your career. Sometimes you can have a hangover from something negative – not that Anthony was in that position, but it’s always about your next challenge, moment and how you’re going to start the season and take all of the momentum that he built last season into this one.
“This is a big season for him in his career. You don’t get many second chances in your career – the years go so quickly, and I can vouch for that. He’s still young and developing, but he needs to maximise every moment. He is the type of character that wants to do that. He’s very committed to his next dream and aim and that’s to have a great season with us.”
Reports over Liverpool’s interest in Gordon have quietened in recent weeks - but The Daily Mail have now claimed Newcastle will look to offer the winger a £9million-per-season deal to ‘try and convince him to stay at St James Park’. The report claims that would see Gordon surpass Brazil international Bruno Guimaraes as the club’s highest earner - and also states the St James Park hierarchy see retaining Gordon’s services as their top priority and would be willing to raise their current wage ceiling to secure a deal.