Teamwork makes the dream work

The brand new Anthony Gordon has already formally signed for Newcastle

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Over the past couple of seasons, Newcastle United are a membership which have endured an enormous quantity of change – whether or not that be on or off the pitch at St James’ Park.

From managerial and recruitment workforce adjustments to key gamers being given the boot, Magpies supporters have seen many top-level abilities transfer on to pastures new.

A handful of gamers departed Tyneside through the current summer time switch window, however the sale of 1 star has confirmed to be an even bigger difficulty than many anticipated.

REUTERS/Lee Smith

Why Newcastle tousled promoting Gordon for simply £69m

Out of the three high-profile departures from Newcastle this summer time, Anthony Gordon departed for the most affordable determine – with Barcelona paying a reported £69m for his signature.

The Englishman was the Magpies’ high goalscorer throughout all competitions final marketing campaign, subsequently ending the 2025/26 time period with 17 objectives in his 46 outings.

 Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon applauds fans after the match

His tally of 10 objectives in his 12 outings within the Champions League was the third-highest of any participant within the competitors – showcasing his means to ship on the most important stage in Europe.

Since his transfer to the Nou Camp, Gordon has registered six objectives and assists throughout all competitions, together with two assists in 25 minutes on his debut.

Such a determine is increased than some other member of Matthias Jaissle’s present squad, with the Englishman a participant who actually hasn’t been changed correctly by the Magpies hierarchy.

Why Newcastle’s Gordon replacements have been a catastrophe

After sanctioning Gordon’s sale, the Newcastle board invested over £90m price of funds to assist soften the blow of the Englishman’s transfer to Barcelona.

Bazoumana Toure was the primary participant signed by the hierarchy, with the Ivorian transferring to St James’ Park from German aspect Hoffenheim for a reported £42m together with add-ons.

Newcastle winger Bazoumana Toure REUTERS/Scott Heppell

The 20-year-old has solely featured six instances within the Premier League since his big-money transfer, however none of his appearances have come from a beginning place.

He’s featured for a complete of 116 minutes in England’s top-flight, however has nonetheless managed to attain – as seen together with his comfort effort towards Leeds United in September.

Matias Fernandez-Pardo is one other attacker who arrived on Tyneside through the summer time window, with the Belgian worldwide arriving for a reported £51m from Lille.

PL minutes for Newcastle (2026/27)

Rank

Participant

PL minutes

Begins

1

Harvey Barnes

796

9

2

Yoane Wissa

648

7

3

Jacob Murphy

345

4

4

Anthony Elanga

324

4

5

Matias Fernández-Pardo

303

4

6

William Osula

269

3

7

Bazoumana Touré

116

0

Nevertheless, like Toure, he’s been unable to ship the products at St James’ Park, subsequently failing to attain in any of his 4 league begins for the Magpies.

How Newcastle have already got the right Gordon alternative

Changing Gordon was all the time going to be a tough ask for the Newcastle hierarchy was all the time going to be a tough process, however it’s actually one which’s greater than they ever anticipated.

While Toure and Fernandez-Pardo have each struggled to make a direct influence on Tyneside, they are going to be given time to make amends within the close to future.

Nevertheless, they may see an added decline in first-team minutes in 2027/28, particularly after fellow attacker Antonito Cordero returns from his ongoing mortgage spell.

The Spaniard, who arrived from Malaga in the summertime of 2025, is but to play a first-team recreation for the Magpies and is spending the yr on mortgage at LaLiga 2 aspect Cadiz.

The 19-year-old will return to Tyneside subsequent summer time upon the completion of his non permanent transfer and can little question be knocking on the door for a beginning place beneath Jaissle.

He’s made a formidable begin to his mortgage spell this marketing campaign, together with his stats from the final couple of months showcasing why he might be the supervisor’s personal model of Gordon.

Cordero has solely began ten video games in LaLiga 2 this marketing campaign, however has nonetheless managed to register 5 objectives and an help – probably the most of any participant in Cadiz’s squad.

The aforementioned determine showcases his means to ship the products within the ultimate third on a constant foundation – one thing which the Englishman did throughout his personal time within the North East.

Newcastle's Anthony Gordon

His underlying stats additionally make for glorious studying, with the Spaniard in a position to register a formidable common of two.9 photographs per 90 this time period – rating him within the high 20% of gamers within the division.

The teenager’s means to pick a teammate has additionally been evident in current weeks, as he’s managed to finish a staggering 1.7 profitable crosses per 90 in 2026/27.

Such a tally is akin to that of Gordon, who typically grew to become recognized for his means to ship the ball from the byline throughout his personal time within the Newcastle senior ranks.

The soar between Cadiz and Newcastle is undoubtedly large, however there’s no motive why Cordero can’t succeed upon his return to Tyneside subsequent season.

He has all of the instruments wanted to be a hit within the modern-game and will effectively be the membership’s reply to changing the just lately departed English attacker.