Newcastle United are prepared to open talks to sell Anthony Gordon to Bayern Munich if the German champions match their £75million valuation for the England forward.
Bayern have targeted the 25-year-old as one of their main summer signings after the retention of the Bundesliga title. The Times understands that Newcastle are aware of the interest, although no official club-to-club contact has yet been made. There is also a belief that Gordon is open to the move.
Bayern’s initial valuation of the former Everton winger is thought to be about £55million, a figure that Newcastle will not entertain. They will, however, open dialogue to sell Gordon if Bayern, who have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, improve that starting price to £75million, The Times has learnt.
The success of Olise and Kane has encouraged Bayern to continue recruiting from the Premier LeagueAFP
The success of the three forwards recently signed from the Premier League — Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz — means Bayern are keen to continue the same recruitment process with Gordon.
Significantly, in their pursuit of Kane, Bayern began the bidding at about £60million before increasing their offers to tempt Tottenham to sell.
At this stage Bayern are clear favourites for Gordon, ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal, who have shown interest in the forward in the past. Gordon’s representatives could be set for meetings with officials from Bayern soon.
Newcastle must sell this summer if they are to sign new players and to refresh their ageing squad at the end of a disappointing Premier League campaign in which they have lost eight of their past 11 games.
Gordon after last year’s Carabao Cup triumphShutterstock Editorial
They were not able to sign a major player in the January transfer window because of financial restrictions, having spent extensively last summer while increasing their wage bill once more.
There will now be a cultural change at the club that will involve selling more players in order to be active in the transfer window. Gordon has emerged as the prime player to leave to fund that summer rebuild.
The winger has scored ten goals in the Champions League for Newcastle this season to make him the third-top scorer in the competition. He has also become an England regular since making a £45million move from Everton in the transfer window of January 2023.
Gordon was almost sold to Liverpool in the summer of 2024 when Newcastle first faced up to their excessive spending. In the end Newcastle sold Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest and Yankuba Minteh to Brighton to avoid a ten-point penalty from the Premier League for breaking the existing Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
Gordon joined Newcastle from Everton for £45million in 2023Getty
Gordon admitted that his head was turned at the time and it is felt he will be up for a move to one of the biggest clubs in world football when Bayern firm up their interest.
He signed a new contract at St James’ Park a matter of months after a potential move to Anfield fell through, but it does not include a release clause.
Instead, Newcastle will demand a fee of £75million, which would be their second-highest sale, after last summer’s acrimonious departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool for £125million.
Gordon missed Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat by Bournemouth on Saturday, which came a day after the club’s head coach, Eddie Howe, had said he would not pick players who were not giving 100 per cent in training.
Gordon had been critical of his team-mates after the 2-1 North East derby loss to rivals Sunderland last month, having opened the scoring for Newcastle.
He was caught on camera arguing with his team-mate Kieran Trippier at half-time during Newcastle’s 6-1 Champions League victory away to Qarabag, when he had scored four goals in the first half and refused the suggestion of another player taking a second penalty awarded to his side.
Gordon has been used as a left winger, a centre forward and a right winger this season by Howe in a search to fill the gap left by Isak and has scored six goals in the Premier League, three of which have been penalties.