- Do Newcastle United have to buy to find replacement?
- 5 Gordon replacements amid Bayern personal terms bombshell
- La Liga star who Newcastle sent scouts to watch included
Anthony Gordon’s proposed move to Bayern Munich appears to be progressing, with reports today that the winger has already agreed personal terms.
With that being said, it is looking like the Magpies will need to invest in a left winger in some capacity this summer. A hefty sum is set to be gathered in return for Gordon, meaning Newcastle could have a lot of options on the table.
So let’s take a look at five of those who have been linked with the club in recent weeks and assess them as possible Anthony Gordon replacements.
Yan Diomande – RB Leipzig
Diomande has been in excellent form for RB Leipzig this season. The winger has accumulated an impressive tally of 13 goals and eight assists in 35 games throughout the campaign.
The Ivorian is primarily a right winger but has the versatility to play off either side seamlessly, which could endear him to Eddie Howe.
At just 19 years of age, Diomande has attracted interest from all over Europe ahead of the summer transfer window. The most prominent of which has been Liverpool; with Mo Salah leaving, they are looking for a young, high-ceiling replacement.
Newcastle have also been linked, though, and could look to make a swift move if Gordon’s departure is wrapped up before the World Cup.
However, Diomande would likely cost a hefty sum, with a fee in the region of £80m quoted. This would position the player as an unlikely candidate for the Magpies, especially with the other elite interest in his services.
William Gomes – FC Porto
Gomes is another who primarily operates off the right flank but is left-footed, so he can play off either side.
The 20-year-old would be a cheaper option than Diomande, costing somewhere in the region of £50m. Newcastle’s reported interest in Gomes is said to have intensified in recent weeks.
Gomes has turned heads with his tricky wing play and goal-scoring ability in a Liga Portugal-winning Porto side. The winger has 14 goals this season, which would have him behind only Gordon and Barnes in the current Newcastle ranks when looking at output.
Abde Ezzalzouli – Real Betis
Newcastle United sent a senior representative to watch Ezzalzouli during Betis’ 2-1 win over Elche in La Liga. The Moroccan is thought to be high on the list of Gordon replacements should his departure come to fruition.
There are thought to be some other Premier League clubs interested in his signature, though, with the likes of Aston Villa and Liverpool also linked.#
Ezzalzouli has been in exceptional form across the season, managing an impressive 14 goals and 10 assists in all competitions for the Spanish club.
The Moroccan shares a lot of similarities with Gordon and could be exactly the sort of replacement the Magpies want given his profile.
Harvey Barnes – Newcastle United
Moving away from the transfer front, Newcastle could well already have the replacement starter in the squad.
Barnes is Newcastle’s top scorer from open play this season and has largely matched Gordon’s numbers with much more limited minutes.
The former Leicester man may not be the glamorous new signing fans are expecting, but Barnes has proven himself as one of the best finishers at the club and could be in for more minutes going forward.
Given the shift in recruitment focus to younger players, bringing in an exciting talent to grow and challenge Barnes for minutes, rather than a big-money starter, could serve the Magpies better in the long run.
Marcus Rashford – Man United
Marcus Rashford’s loan at Barcelona has now come to an end, following his tremendous free kick that secured the title for the Blaugrana.
Manchester United are reportedly ready to offload Rashford on the cheap this summer. The winger has said he would be more than happy to stay in Catalunya if Barcelona tried to make the move permanent, but that has yet to materialise in any concrete form.
Newcastle have been linked with Rashford in recent weeks amid the interest in Gordon, and the England international could mark an interesting option for Howe.
Should Rashford favour a return to the Premier League, the Magpies feel well-positioned to offer him first-team football and a foothold back in his home country.
