Anthony Gordon has reportedly decided on his preferred destination this summer, with Liverpool and Barcelona said to be interested in the attacker. Gordon started the season strong and was in fine form for the Magpies, but following an injury scare back in March, the winger played no part in the final few matches of the season.
Fast forward two years, and they’re once again said to be keen, but this time they’re likely to face much stiffer competition. That’s coming in the form of La Liga champions Barcelona and Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich, who have joined the race for the 25-year-old and are serious about bringing him to the Nou Camp.
So much so, according to Mundo Deportivo, the England international has his heart set on a move to Barcelona and would prefer it as his ideal destination. It’s suggested that sporting director Deco was recently in London and held conversations about Gordon, who has now had his head turned by the Catalan giants.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims that Gordon and Barcelona have even gone as so far as reaching a total agreement on personal terms. Barcelona are in direct talks with Newcastle now and want to wrap a deal up quickly.
Manager Eddie Howe, who himself has been linked with a St. James’ Park exit, has admitted Gordon’s final match for Newcastle might already have come and gone. When asked if his absence from the starting XI after returning from injury was related to the noise, he explained: “When you get to this stage of the season, part of what we will be doing we’ll be looking to next year, naturally, so yes.
“Anthony’s just come back from injury. I think the team has played well in his absence and with a partial view to the future, yes… No, nothing, no updates from me. These are discussions that potentially might be happening, but not with me.”
Gordon’s immediate focus will be on helping England at the World Cup next month, with the former Everton star having been picked in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad. The Three Lions will play two warm-up matches against New Zealand and Costa Rica, before kicking their group stage campaign off against Croatia. Following that, the 1966 champions will face Ghana and Panama, with the knockouts starting at the round-of-32 stage for the first time as a result of the expanded World Cup format.