Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon may have made his final appearance for the club, with a summer transfer increasingly looking like a formality.
That’s according to Newcastle journalist Lee Ryder, who shared his insight speaking on the Everything is Black and White podcast.
The Magpies still have two games left to play in the Premier League season, but Ryder was blunt about the logic of risking Gordon in these fixtures with a big-money move on the horizon.
“If Newcastle have got, let’s say, an £80 million transfer in the works, they’ve already spoken to Bayern, the player wants to leave… then why would you bring him on into end of season games?” Ryder said.
“Let’s say he turns his ankle or breaks his ankle. That is the risk that they get a long-term injury and it jeopardises potentially getting the money in.
“We’ve already been told on the record the need to sell to buy. So I guess it feels very ominous.”
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Bayern Munich remain the frontrunners, with negotiations already underway and Gordon himself understood to prefer a switch to the Bundesliga.
But with Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City also said to be among the interested parties, the situation could still change.
Could Arsenal still sign Anthony Gordon?
It’s no secret that Mikel Arteta has long admired Anthony Gordon, and a new left winger is firmly on the agenda this summer.
Should the proposed move to Bayern Munich break down for any reason, don’t be surprised if Arsenal make their move for a player the manager has tracked for some time.
Fans may scoff at the prospect of Gordon being a marquee signing, but his dynamism, intensity out-of-possession and Premier League pedigree make the 25-year-old a textbook Arteta signing.
Besides, with 17 goals in all competitions, he has outscored all of Arsenal’s wingers this campaign.
The club will have alternative targets though including RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, and Bradley Barcola of their Champions League final opponents, PSG.
Why the news is not great for Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham
Spare a thought — actually, don’t — for Tottenham, who are desperate for Newcastle to beat West Ham to keep themselves out of the relegation places.
Unfortunate timing, then, that Newcastle appear to be quietly wrapping Gordon in cotton wool and thinking about the summer.
Eddie Howe’s side may have slightly more pressing concerns than doing Spurs any favours — much like Oliver Glasner, who has rather more on his mind than doing Manchester City any.
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