The Anthony Gordon debate – Tackling the £40m concerns and common misconceptions

There has been a lot of discussion about Anthony Gordon’s move to St James’ Park. Most of it has centred on price.

The fee is reported to be £40m + £5m in add-ons, which is a huge outlay for a player with Gordon’s experience. That said, Chelsea were rumoured to be offering a larger sum in the summer, therefore it isn’t just Newcastle that rate the attacker as highly as they do.

It is generally agreed that we have paid too much for Gordon’s current ability. Even the player himself will agree that he isn’t a £45m player present. He has three Premier League goals and no assists across 16 matches so far this season. Although he has been playing in a struggling team, he isn’t a top six calibre player yet.

Yet is the key word there. Newcastle have paid the amount of money that they have due to a belief that the winger can develop into a player that is worth much more than £45m. They have bought potential and the board will have faith in Eddie Howe’s ability to develop the England U21 international into a great player. The work that the manager has already done with Joelinton, Sean Longstaff and Miguel Almiron, to name just three, is testament to that.

Last season, Gordon played a key role in Everton’s survival. His confidence on the pitch was needed during a difficult period, as he contributed four goals and two assists. For a player with his lack of experience, it was highly impressive and showed that he can perform in the midst of a relegation fight. It is that character that will have made us believe that he has it in him to get to the very top.

Rather than current ability, Newcastle have invested in potential and a belief that they can provide the right environment for Gordon to prosper. This isn’t a short term investment to help the club finish in the top four. Rather, it is a long term investment to help the club establish itself in the top four.

If we are to become regulars in the top six, we need to lower the age of the squad and add players with huge potential. At the age of 21, Gordon already has a good level of Premier League experience and he has the potential to develop into an England international. There is a premium attached to homegrown players, due to the registration rules in the Premier League and European competitions. That is another reason why the fee is as high as it is.

One bad thing about social media is that there is a rush to judge a transfer before the move has already been completed. Gordon has already been written off as a waste of money, despite the player not even playing a minute for us. It is similar to the way Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech were lauded as great signings for Chelsea as soon as they put pen to paper. All three have hugely underwhelmed.

Morgan Gibbs-White was written off in a similar way to Gordon. He was seen as grossly overpriced and a waste of money for Nottingham Forest. Since his signing, he has emerged as the club’s best player and helped them to a mid table position and a cup semi final. Forest will view the player as value for money and there is already a huge chance that they will make a profit on him in the future.

For the current Newcastle recruitment team, it is clear we prioritise a profile of player rather than a reputation. Gordon has the work rate and technical ability to thrive in an Eddie Howe team. Given their recent success in the market, they should be trusted.

Transfers shouldn’t be judged as soon as they are made. Everyone needs to be patient and judge the transfer after a period of time. Everton’s Anthony Gordon isn’t worth £45m, but Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon could end up being worth much more. Let’s wait and give the lad a chance.