With the 2022/23 January transfer window slowly edging towards a close, clubs across
the country are putting the final touches on the business they hope to complete before
the window slams shut and the second half of the current campaign motors towards its
finish.
This is certainly true of the Premier League campaign which has already seen some
high profile, and as usual, very expensive switches taking place and one the latest deals
that are expected to go through is the transfer of Everton Academy graduate
Anthony Gordon to very newly rich Newcastle United.
The deal with Newcastle is reported to be in the region of £40 million up front, with a
further £5 million in performance related add ons, and with the Goodison Park outfit
seeming to have rebuffed Chelsea's earlier interest in the youngster where they were
demanding a fee allegedly around the £60 million mark, it seems the relationship has
soured in more recent times and having been absent from training at Finch Farm this
week, he only returned on Friday as he tried to presumably encourage a move to take
place. For those who use
non gamstop sites but also like a flutter, the rest of the window
is worth keeping an eye on.
On Friday evening it was being reported that the formalities on an agreement had now
all been fleshed out, and it was expected that the 21 year old's move to St James Park
would now sail through well ahead of Tuesday's deadline.
Fans will presume that this has been sanctioned by new Toffee's manager Sean Dyche
who is expected to be shortly unveiled as Frank Lampard's successor, and with Everton
cashing in, it could hand Dyche a war chest for the remaining few days as he looks to
toughen up the
squad and add a few of his own options as they look to move away from
the relegation zone in the second half of the year, and ultimately secure their survival.
As for Gordon, Newcastle gaffer Eddie Howe will know what he is getting. Having made
his first team debut back in 2020 after progressing through their youth ranks, Gordon
went on to make 65 appearances for Everton across all competitions in the last few
years, and in that time he chipped in with seven goals of his own and caught the eye of
plenty in the wider game - but given the youngster has not started a first team game
since the hoe defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day, and his last goal
came in their 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace back on October 22nd (incidentally,
Everton's last win in any competition), there will certainly be those who question the size
of the fee that Newcastle are paying for him.
The nine capped England Under 21 international still has plenty of time left on his side to
develop more of a consistent game, and provide a greater threat during matches and
most certainly improve his goals to games ratio, but Howe will know the signing is about
potential as opposed to a finished product and that he has plenty of developing left to do.
People will certainly be watching on to see how he adjusts to life on Tyneside, but you
would imagine he has more been brought with next season in mind.
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Anthony Gordon profile.