Newcastle 'to open Anthony Gordon negotiations' as Liverpool circle like sharks

Newcastle will reportedly enter contract negotiations with Anthony Gordon to ward off transfer interest from Liverpool. The England winger is due to return from a summer break next week after being part of the Three Lions squad at Euro 2024.

Liverpool have been strongly linked with Gordon this summer. Newcastle may still have work to do to ensure they remain within profit and sustainability regulations, with their Premier League rivals potentially offering a huge sum for the former Everton star.

But Newcastle have maintained that they want to keep Gordon for the foreseeable future. According to The Athletic, the Magpies are hoping to open talks over a contract extension next week.

Gordon, a boyhood Liverpool fan, will return from an extended break after being part of the England squad at Euro 2024. He only played one minute in Germany as the Three Lions reached the final.

Newcastle are keen to reward Gordon for his first full season at St. James’ Park. He initially struggled after joining from Everton in January 2023 but was a huge success story last term.

Gordon scored 12 goals and provided a further 11 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions for Eddie Howe’s side. Eleven of his strikes came in the Premier League, earning him a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the summer’s tournament over the likes of Jack Grealish.

Newcastle reportedly held preliminary talks with Liverpool over potentially selling Gordon earlier this summer. They needed to raise £60million prior to the PSR cut-off of June 30, but no deal for the forward materialised.

Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson were sold to Brighton and Nottingham Forest, respectively. That meant Newcastle were able to keep Gordon and star striker Alexander Isak for the forthcoming Premier League season.

However, former shareholder Amanda Staveley revealed that Liverpool’s interest was genuine and that Newcastle were ‘concerned’ that they would need to sell Gordon.

“My biggest concern was that we’d lose Alex (Isak) or Anthony (Gordon) because Liverpool chased him and both are extraordinary players,” Staveley said. “Negotiating is tough because you have to pretend it means nothing to you when it means everything.”

Liverpool are keen to sign a new forward to play across their front line. There has been vast speculation over the futures of wide duo Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz. Saudi Arabian teams are likely to reprise their interest in Salah, who only has a year remaining on his contract.