Anthony Gordon Next Club: Liverpool summer move now more than 50% likely
If reports are to be believed, Liverpool were recently offered the chance to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle in order for the Magpies to remain within the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations. While the Reds reportedly turned down the chance to sign Gordon, there is no smoke without fire.
A swift return to Merseyside may be on the cards for the England international, who is currently with the Three Lions camp for Euro 2024. While Gordon has struggled for minutes with the national team, he's a handy option for Gareth Southagte off the bench and his high work-rate could prove vital if England are to lift their first European Championship in their history.
Liverpool are weighing up a move for Gordon to take over the reins on the left flank. While it's a role occupied by Luis Diaz, the Colombian's inconsistency in the final third has left some pondering whether to move on from the former Porto man and bring Gordon to Anfield. Newly-appointed head coach Arne Slot is expected to run the rule over his squad before making any final decisions over any incomings or outgoings but rumours of a move for the Newcastle star do make sense.
Slot wants his players to work hard off the ball, particularly in the final third to force turnovers in dangerous positions. His Feyenoord side last season won possession in the attacking third more times (229) than any other team in the Eredivisie, while winger Yankuba Minteh, now of Brighton, ranked third for tackles per 90 (2.8) of all players for the Dutch giants.
With Slot expected to implement a 4-2-3-1 setup at Anfield next season, he'll want a similar approach from his forwards as Liverpool look to press opponents high up the pitch as a way of creating chances. Gordon, then, suits this style. He won possession in the attacking third 28 times in England's top tier last term, that ranking 17th, and averaged a respectable 1.7 tackles per 90.
By comparison, Diaz won possession in the attacking third 24 times and finished the campaign with 1.2 tackles per 90 to his name. It's not a huge difference, but a metric that Gordon trumps Diaz in. In addition, it's the latter who would perhaps offer more than the former in front of goal. It's no secret that Gordon finished the campaign as one of only five players to register double figures for both goals (11) and assists (10) with his goal output improving significantly under Eddie Howe.
Diaz, meanwhile, managed eight goals and five assists in a more attack-minded Liverpool side, with the 27-year-old directly involved in a league goal every 203.5 minutes last season, that a significant drop in Gordon's return of a goal contribution every 138.4 minutes. As direct attacking options down the left flank, it's a bit of a no brainer than the Reds should be looking to land Gordon as a replacement for Diaz. That's not to say the latter is a poor winger by any stretch but that the former is a better fit for a Slot-managed side.
