Newcastle send 'really strong' message as 'overblown' Liverpool transfer talk addressed


Eddie Howe has declared that Newcastle United's ambition remains 'really strong' after Anthony Gordon was 'excited' to sign a new deal with the Magpies.

Gordon is set to put pen to paper on a new long-term contract - just a few months after the Scouser found himself subject of interest from boyhood club Liverpool. Newcastle and Liverpool held talks, as the black-and-whites scrambled to raise funds to avoid a PSR breach and a 10-point deduction back in June, but Howe claimed the 'story was slightly overblown in my knowledge of it'.

Gordon insisted he 'did not need any persuading to stay here' and the England international made a point of repeatedly kissing the badge after equalising for Newcastle in the 1-1 draw against Manchester City at the weekend. Gordon, who was left on the verge of tears by Wor Flags' show of support before the game, added that he had been 'excited to sign the contract for a long time'.

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Those words felt timely following a frustrating window where Newcastle failed to add a difference maker, but at least managed to keep hold of their best players.

"That's hugely important," Howe told reporters. "I've said many times how important it is that we keep our current players fulfilled and happy, and we can do that in a number of ways.

"The main way for me is to keep progressing and improving, and the ambition of the club remains really strong. I think if players can see that, they will commit their futures because they feel we're going in the right direction as a club.

"Anthony's best years are ahead of him. He proved again on Saturday how good he is and how good he can be. I still feel there is more to come.

"His versatility and ability to play different attacking roles can only serve us well with the small squad that we have so I was delighted with him. I was delighted with the love that he got from the supporters. That feeling and bond is so important so a really big thank you to them for that."

After putting in one of his worst performances yet for Newcastle, in the 3-1 defeat at Fulham, Gordon looked more like himself against Manchester City on Saturday and tirelessly led the line in Alexander Isak's absence. Not only did Gordon win Newcastle's second-half penalty - the 23-year-old stepped up from the spot and sent Ederson the wrong way before the hour mark.

Anthony Gordon chases Ederson down
Anthony Gordon chases Ederson down

Gordon also embodied Newcastle's newfound intensity without the ball after he pressed and hunted down Ederson and Manchester City's defenders. Less than two minutes were on the clock when Gordon took down Josko Gvardiol to loud cheers. When Newcastle had 11 men behind the ball at one point in the first half, it was Gordon who harried Mateo Kovacic and forced the Manchester City midfielder to turn towards his own goal and pass the ball back, which allowed the hosts to move up the field. Ederson even uncharacteristically booted the ball out of play after Gordon chased him down.

It was a hark back to the displays that earned Gordon a place in the England squad at the Euros at a time when the forward felt 'unstoppable'. However, Gordon was only afforded a late cameo in Germany, against Slovenia, and that 'disappointment' ended up having a knock-on effect.

"I don't necessarily think there was a resetting or refocusing moment," Howe added. "It was more for Anthony getting the fitness that he had missed.

"The summer was difficult for him. Not only did he not play in the Euros. That has a physical cost. He had not played for a long period of time and then he had a really short pre-season with us.

"He had the two games with England during the international break, which helped him. We did a lot of work with him last week and he looked a lot better for that, and we will continue to do that. It was more that than any transfer speculation."