One of the biggest curve balls thrown by the recent January transfer window in the Premier League was Newcastle United’s signing of Anthony Gordon from Everton.
The Magpies swooped in and signed the 21-year-old having made a bright start to their first full campaign under the new Saudi ownership.
With that takeover came the financial backbone to pull off deals like this — paying £45 million for a winger who has just seven professional goals to his name.
The stats have not put Eddie Howe off though, as he adds further firepower to his team on the cusp of Champions League football.
Indeed, Gordon provides reinforcement to a depleted Newcastle frontline, who despite struggling with injuries have managed to maintain their push for a top-four finish beyond the Premier League’s break for the World Cup.
While most betting on football still have them as outsiders to be amongst European football’s elite this time next year, it’s likely the good times will continue at St. James’ Park, and having Gordon in the squad is hardly going to hinder that.
Only last summer were Everton rejected big-money moves from Chelsea for Gordon’s signature, with the Toffees reportedly turning down £65 million from Frank Lampard’s former side.
Since then Lampard has left Finch Farm amid another underwhelming campaign which saw Everton slumped in the relegation places.
Whether or not Gordon was a scapegoat for his side’s downfall remains to be seen, but in the fans turning their back on the academy graduate, a player that has been at the club since childhood, Gordon decided his future was elsewhere and departs with the club possibly playing in the Championship next season.
It will take a run of form redolent of last season to keep Everton’s top-flight status intact, whilst Gordon, who walked out of training at the end of January having scored three goals in 16 games this season, prepares for a new challenge in the North East.
Gordon joins an exciting Newcastle attack, with this meaning he can play out wide as well as down the middle.
Miguel Almiron’s form might have dried up but alongside the enigma that is Allan Saint-Maximin and two direct strikers in Callum Wilson and record signing Alexander Isak, Newcastle have plenty of firepower to support their push for European football.
Gordon has shown his ability to create big chances, and now he’ll have the support and freedom to finish them off and arrive in more attacking areas with his team on the front foot far more under Howe than his days at Everton.
At 21, Gordon’s best years are ahead of him and he’ll have plenty of time to try and turn doubters to believers.
Having already seemed to dismiss the price tag, there have been glimpses of excellence for Gordon in an Everton shirt which he’ll need to replicate in black and white stripes.
It’s a competitive side to walk in to and there’s no guarantee he’ll be a starter, but if Gordon can hit the ground running then there’s every chance he could be playing Champions League football come the end of the summer.
Featured image credit: Daniel via Flickr under CC BY 2.0 licence
