Anthony Gordon: Newcastle forward extends stay but could it have been different?

Newcastle’s long, barren run without lifting a trophy is well publicised, with them last picking up major domestic silverware almost 70 years ago when they won the 1955 FA Cup final against Manchester City.

Gordon joined Newcastle from Everton for £45m in January 2023 and the team had the opportunity of glory just a month later but were beaten in the Carabao Cup final by Manchester United.

He said he had been “hurt”, external by the manner of his exit from Goodison Park after the Toffees “failed to thank” him for his services and initially struggled for form in the North East, failing to score in any of his 16 Premier League appearances during the remainder of that season.

Howe’s side, though, made a return to the Champions League with a fourth-placed finish, allowing Gordon to showcase his talent in Europe’s elite club competition.

They may have finished bottom of their group but the season was a success on an individual level for the player, who scored 12 goals and provided 11 assists in 48 games.

Since joining Newcastle from Everton, his goal and assist contributions have increased from 0.27 to 0.44 per game, while the number of chances he has created every 90 minutes has improved from 1.25 to 1.65.

Following the announcement of the new deal, boss Howe said Gordon had “grown as a player and as a person” during his time at Newcastle and he has continued to “prove just how good he is on the biggest stage”.

But despite a stellar showing in his first full season on Tyneside, his future seemed to be in real doubt in the summer as it looked at one stage that Gordon may leave to help the club balance its financial position.

Newcastle’s issues with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) meant they needed to sell before the 30 June deadline to comply. With the cut-off point fast approaching, the club found themselves needing to consider offers for one of Isak, Guimaraes or Gordon.

A boyhood Liverpool supporter – despite coming through at Everton – Gordon’s dream move was on the cards when Newcastle offered the Reds a price of £70m, as well as taking defender Jarell Quansah the other way in a separate deal.

But Liverpool turned down the proposal and Newcastle ended up doing business with Nottingham Forest instead, selling 21-year-old midfielder Elliot Anderson for £35m, and allowing winger Yankuba Minteh, 20, to go to Brighton for £30m.

Though they lost two potential stars of the future, the deals meant they could make up their PSR shortfall and, rather importantly, keep Gordon too.