Anthony Gordon is on the cusp of being announced as a Barcelona player, but it has been reported that Liverpool “made strong contact” before learning his preferred destination.
Gordon was close to Liverpool a move in 2024, and *The Times*‘ Paul Joyce, the *Telegraph*‘s Dominic King and the *Guardian*‘s Andy Hunter all named him as a potential target this week.
Any interest was later played down, and Gordon has since undergone a medical with Barcelona ahead of a £69 million transfer from Newcastle.
Another twist in the tale, however, is that Joyce has since reported that Liverpool “made strong contact” with Gordon’s representatives to sound out his interest.
They discovered that he preferred a move to Barcelona over his boyhood club, ending any potential to explore a deal ahead of a formal announcement over the coming days.
File photo dated 02-05-2026 of Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has affirmed Anthony Gordonís commitment to the club following speculation over his future. Issue date: Friday 8th May, 2026.
Gordon was set to move to Anfield in 2024 as part of a £75 million deal which would have seen Joe Gomez move the other way for £45 million, he went on to score 26 goals in 88 games since.
Joyce revealed the extent of the interest in Gordon amid the context of the club “choosing to give priority” to the gaps in the squad left by Mo Salah‘s exit and Hugo Ekitike‘s serious Achilles injury over an expensive Ibrahima Konate contract renewal.
It hints that the club are “seeking at least two attacking signings,” with RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande name-checked once more as “high on Liverpool’s wanted list.”
While not named in his report, PSG’s Bradley Barcola is another player of known interest to the Reds, though he predominantly plays on the left.
While Liverpool’s pursuit of attacking reinforcements is not surprising, they evidently reached out to Gordon too late, even if that was their intent to know the terms of the deal before stepping in themselves.
The club cannot afford to do that with every target this summer otherwise they will be left reacting to the transfer market instead of initiating moves themselves.
In addition to attacking reinforcements, the *Mail*‘s Lewis Steele writes that the club have “asked around” about central midfielders, centre-backs and a right-back.