Anthony Gordon is part of Newcastle's preparations for Sunday's clash with Nottingham Forest, and Eddie Howe has already said he is being assessed after a partial session on Wednesday. The transfer noise sits behind that for now, but it has not gone away. Newcastle are still expected to demand £74million for Anthony Gordon, with 15% of any fee owed to Everton.

Why Gordon's future is still live

The clearest point from the brief is that Gordon has not pushed for a move. He has not submitted a transfer request, either. That matters, because the pressure here is coming from Newcastle's side of the equation, not from the player asking out.

The financial picture is the reason his future keeps coming up. Newcastle are facing PSR pressure and an impending UEFA fine, and the brief says that could force a summer sale even if the football case for keeping him is obvious. Gordon's output shows why the club would rather not be in that position. He has started 26 Premier League appearances in 2025, scored 6 goals and added 2 assists.

That is not the profile of a squad player. It is the profile of someone Newcastle use heavily, which is why the idea of selling him feels more like a financial decision than a sporting one.

Barcelona's link is real, but still thin

Barcelona are part of the conversation, but the source material is careful on this point. Members of Unique Sports Group were pictured in Barcelona earlier this week, yet Chronicle Live was told their presence in Catalonia was to discuss other targets, not Gordon.

That is the key distinction. Barcelona are not described as having made an active bid, and the brief says they are financially constrained, with €1.8bn debt and difficulty even financing a £26m move for Marcus Rashford from Manchester United. Bayern Munich are still described as the more concrete suitor.

Eddie Howe's comments fit the same picture. “He's obviously a player of huge quality and one that we've missed,” he said. Howe also said Newcastle would make an assessment on Gordon's fitness closer to the game. For now, Gordon remains in the squad picture, not on the edge of a confirmed exit.

The summer question is whether Newcastle decide football can afford to lose him before finance decides it for them. If they do sell, the brief suggests the most likely outcome is a move shaped by PSR pressure and a £74million valuation, not a Barcelona breakthrough.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →