Newcastle chiefs have rubbished claims there will be a fre sale at St James' Park next summer
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe congratulates Anthony Gordon against Qarabag
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe congratulates Anthony Gordon(Image: Elmir Karimov/Shutterstock)
View Image
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe today fired a broadside back at anybody who is trying to rock the boat with Anthony Gordon - or any of his top stars.
The uncertainty arises with Necwastle uncertain of their Champions League ticket for the 2026/27 season with the Magpies nine points behind the top five and in a position where they may need to WIN the European Cup to ensure their spot.
The agenda on Sky Sports last night led with a "mass exodus" theme at United and namechecked Sandro Tonali, Gordon, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall as players who could go in a summer "fire sale" on Tyneside. Chronicle Live understands that Newcastle officials are furious with such suggestions, given Howe is building a team to challenge the squad, and contract talks are taking place on a regular basis to secure top stars.
CEO David Hopkinson last year opened an investigation behind the scenes on how Alexander Isak got to the position in which he wanted to go on strike to win a move to Liverpool. Gordon himself told Chronicle Live last week that suggestions he would leave the club were: "A load of rubbish."
Howe was asked if he believed there was a campaign to unsettle his players and said: "You tell me. It is your industry who is creating those stories."
On the Gordon story, with the winger linked with a £75m move to Arsenal, Howe said at his Press conference: “I'm not sure there's a lot I can do about that. I've not seen the story, so it's news to me.
“But we're mid-season, we're in the middle of some of the biggest games of his career and who knows what's going to happen internationally with him in the summer as well.
“He's got no time to look left or right, he's got to be fully-focused on straight ahead and the next game and trying to be as good as he can be.
“I've been really impressed with him the last few weeks, I think he's been in a good place. Playing in a central position, I think he's done really well and we want him to continue that good form."
After Sky Sports then amplified the screaming Gordon headlines, Howe was asked if the player would be affected by it.
Howe said: "Only if he reads it, I suppose. In this age there's always rumour and speculation.
"I don't see probably 90 per cent of it, I'm sure the players probably see more than I do. But I think it comes with the territory of being a top player and playing at this level, that there's going to be speculation.
"I think you've just got to put it out of your brain and you've got to focus on the football, because as we know with our schedule, there's so many games, there's no time for distractions. We have to be fully focused on each match."
Gordon told Chronicle Live last week from Baku: "About me? I haven't seen them. What are they saying?
"It's the same old, same old. I think they just pick names out of a hat. They do (names out of the hat). I haven't heard anything; they might want to tell me before they tell you (the media)."
When asked if he just wanted to focus on being a Newcastle legend, Gordon said: "Of course. I have gone through enough transfer stuff now to know that it is all a load of rubbish."
Ensure our latest Newcastle United headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings