Liverpool have shown their hand in their pursuit of Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon as Richard Hughes comments ring true.
It was the transfer equivalent of showing their hand. Now the pack is close to finally being shuffled by Liverpool and their new-look recruitment team.
New Reds sporting director Richard Hughes said on his unveiling at the start of July that it wouldn’t be until the end of the month and early August that business would start to build during the summer window.
Mind you, it was more than a month ago that Liverpool had not only agreed a £45million deal to sell Joe Gomez to Newcastle United, but also brokered a package that would have seen Anthony Gordon move in the opposite direction for £75m before the Magpies binned the exchange.
But it’s perhaps no coincidence the news eventually emerged on Wednesday given the prediction from Hughes regards Liverpool’s expected dealings, which was made just days after Newcastle pulled the plug.
Next week Arne Slot will finally have his full squad together with the return of the remainder of Liverpool’s international tournament contingent. Among them is Gomez, who will have had three weeks to ponder his Reds future with further clubs having now expressed an interest in his signature.
The England international demonstrated two years ago when signing a new deal that he wasn’t one for shirking a challenge. But now 27, having enjoyed regular minutes last season – if rarely at centre-back – and been the only player to stay at Liverpool throughout Jurgen Klopp’s tenure, now could seem a natural time to move on.
And, clearly, neither transfer has entirely gone away.
It had been known back in late June that Liverpool were offered Gordon by Newcastle with the proviso Jarell Quansah moved in the opposite direction, a deal the Reds swiftly dismissed given Quansah is seen as a key tenet in their future team at centre-back. But that they subsequently agreed a deal for Gordon makes it unequivocal – they want him and the player wants to join.
Of course, long is the list of players who came close to completing a transfer only to ultimately never make the proposed move. It happens regularly.
But there’s a sense Liverpool’s interest in Gordon – and Newcastle’s private acceptance the winger wants to go to Anfield – isn’t going to dissipate any time soon. The prevailing mood suggests there would be increasingly little surprise should the player end up with the Reds sooner rather than later.
Gordon’s previous career at Everton is unlikely – well, Merseyside derbies apart – to cause much of an issue, given the Scouser was a boyhood Liverpool supporter and has rarely hidden his admiration for the club.
Newcastle, though, are in a position to play hardball. Gordon hasn’t thus far agitated for a move and, with there no longer a pressing need to move on players, the Magpies can bump up the price for the 23-year-old. Indeed, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe regards the player as “integral” to his team this coming season.
And a cursory glance at Liverpool’s squad would make their interest in Gordon curious. While the player can operate on both flanks, they already have a surfeit of options on the left while Mohamed Salah is a nailed-on starter on the right when available, which is mostly often.
However, Salah is now in the final year of his contract and, 33 next summer, is at the opposite end of his career compared to Gordon. And suggestions Luis Diaz, a regular on the left wing last season, could leave continue to linger with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain still the chief potential suitors.
A move for Gordon would make sense not only in terms of Liverpool’s long-term future, but also boxing off a more immediate possible issue. And Newcastle themselves now have the financial leeway to bring in a replacement.
Hughes knew exactly what he was talking about when he said August is when things should start happening for Liverpool in the transfer window. The cards are now firmly on the table.