Newcastle United may now need Anthony Gordon to hand in a transfer request at Everton to secure his services. The Toffees are reluctant to sell the forward on the Magpies’ terms.
That is according to Chronicle Live, which reports the Toon only want to pay up to £40m to sign Gordon. But Everton believe Chelsea remain in the race for the winger’s signature and would outbid Newcastle. Although the Blues have yet tabled any offer in the January sales.
Everton are also yet to rule out keeping Gordon at Goodison Park to boost their chances of Premier League survival. The Toffees fired Frank Lampard on Monday with the Merseyside outfit 19th in the table. They have only won three and drawn six of their 20 matches so far.
Gordon had fallen out of favour at Goodison toward the end of Lampard’s tenure with the 21-year-old an unused substitute in their 2-0 defeat at West Ham United on Saturday. But he is still their joint-top goalscorer this season with three during 16 outings, starting in 12.
So, Everton are prepared to keep the England U21 gem in January if Newcastle do not raise their offer for Gordon’s transfer. Even though he is now in the final 18 months of a £13k-a-week contract with the Toffees. Yet their reluctance could ease if the winger asks to leave.
Chelsea could pull out of a race with Newcastle for Gordon’s transfer from Everton
Gordon would give up any loyalty payments Everton may owe their academy product if he asks to secure a transfer to Chelsea or Newcastle. While The Northern Echo also now notes the Blues are ready to pull out of the race. Chelsea refuse to pay Everton’s £60m price tag.
It further adds that Newcastle would favour making a £40m bid with an upfront fee of only £25m for Gordon. Everton are against accepting the Toon’s proposal but the sides will hold further talks in the coming days. The Toon also hope the clubs will agree on a compromise.
Chelsea were already trailing Newcastle’s pursuit of Gordon’s transfer with their pursuit of the Everton ace, per BBC Sport. But the Blues were considering allowing the winger to stay at Goodison for the rest of the campaign on loan. He has been with the Toffees since 2012.
Gordon has only offered seven goals and eight assists in all competitions over 78 first-team appearances to date. But at 21 years old, Chelsea and Newcastle admire what he can offer across their frontlines. Rafa Benitez also spoke fondly of his potential whilst with Everton.
“He is a player who is very explosive and when you have this, in this case, it is not the main quality,” Benitez stated, via quotes by the Liverpool Echo, in October 2021. “He is a player who is learning and growing and can be an impact coming from the bench.”
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