Eddie Howe has delivered a clear message to Anthony Gordon: concentrate solely on Newcastle United despite mounting transfer speculation linking the forward with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Reports emerged on Friday suggesting the Gunners are leading the chase for the 24-year-old, with their Premier League rivals also monitoring the situation closely.
The Newcastle manager addressed the rumours ahead of Saturday’s fixture against Everton, Gordon’s former club.
“I’m not sure there’s a lot I can do about that,” Howe told reporters. “I’ve not seen the story, so it’s news to me.”
Eddie Howe told Anthony Gordon to keep his focus amid interest in his services
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Gordon himself dismissed similar speculation as “a load of rubbish” just last week.
The England international’s domestic output has been modest, with three league goals and two assists this season.
However, his European performances tell an entirely different story.
Gordon has registered 10 goals and two assists across 10 Champions League appearances, amassing 12 direct goal contributions in the competition.
These remarkable figures place him in elite company as only the second Englishman to reach double figures in a single Champions League campaign, following Harry Kane’s 11 goals during 2024-25.
Anthony Gordon scored an incredible four goals in the first half against Qarabag in the Champions League
| GETTYHis four-goal haul against Qarabag in the play-off first leg proved particularly memorable, making him just the second player in Champions League history to score four times in a single half.
Howe emphasised that Gordon finds himself at a pivotal juncture with no room for wandering attention.
“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 Anthony in the summer as well,” the Newcastle boss explained.
“He’s not got 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.”
The 48-year-old suggested that speculation simply accompanies the territory of performing at the highest level, adding that players must remain mentally robust enough to disregard such noise.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are strongly linked with Anthony Gordon
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Newcastle welcome Everton to St James’ Park on Saturday, with Gordon set to face the club where he began his professional career.
The Magpies are pursuing their sixth Premier League double over the Merseyside outfit, having previously achieved the feat in 1993-94, 1995-96, 2001-02, 2020-21 and 2022-23.
Only Tottenham have been defeated home and away more frequently by Newcastle, with seven such seasons recorded.
Everton did claim a 1-0 victory in this corresponding fixture last term, though consecutive away wins at Newcastle have eluded them since the 2012-13 and 2013-14 campaigns.