Three Anthony Gordon alternatives Liverpool could target after Newcastle make their stance clear

Liverpool are set to miss out on signing Anthony Gordon this summer after Newcastle United CEO Darren Eales ruled out selling the winger.

Gordon joined the Magpies from Everton in January 2023 and, after a slow first half of the season, has exploded into life in 2023/24 with 11 goals and 10 assists in 35 Premier League appearances. His form at club level was enough to earn him a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024, although he only featured for a minute off the bench in the final group game against Slovenia.

But despite only being able to watch the Three Lions reach the final, Gordon remains a hot topic this summer, with Liverpool reportedly joining rivals Manchester City in a transfer deal.

However, Eales has publicly stated Newcastle’s intention to keep Gordon, along with other “key” players.

“In the end, we had to do the deals that were right for the club (PSR wise), that made us compliant,” Eales said. “So from that perspective, we did what we had to do.

“But we have kept what I would say are our core players, the type of players like Isak, Gordon, Bruno, Joelinton – those players who are our core.

“Now it’s a case of OK, with this new cycle ahead of us now, how can we look to strengthen? How can we look to go to the next level?”

Asked directly whether Newcastle will keep Gordon this summer, Eales replied: “Yes!”

However, Liverpool will still have their sights set on another striker this summer as they look to close the gap on Manchester City and Arsenal under new manager Arne Slot. So who are the potential alternatives to Anthony Gordon?

Leeds United have already sold the likes of Archie Gray and Glen Kamara this summer, but still face a battle to hold on to a number of other star players after missing out on promotion. One of those is Crysencio Summerville, who is attracting serious attention after scoring 21 goals and 10 assists in 49 appearances for the Whites in all competitions last season.

Everyone from Newcastle to Chelsea have been linked with the 22-year-old Dutch winger, who has scored 11 goals in 37 appearances for his country at various youth levels. Liverpool are another club understood to be in the running.

The Reds are currently priced at 7/2 by Sky Bet to sign Summerville in this transfer window, putting them second behind fellow Premier League side Brighton.

Summerville is capable of playing on either flank, so he would provide Slot with plenty of cover in attacking areas. And of course, there’s that Dutch connection between the two, which would certainly be a deciding factor if Liverpool were battling any rivals for the winger’s signature.

Liverpool are now priced at just 14/1 to sign Eberechi Eze at the moment, with the likes of Man City, Arsenal and Tottenham all ahead of him in the pecking order. However, one Liverpool legend has already backed a potential swoop for the England international, who joined Gordon in Germany over the summer.

“Gordon will be a good signing but you can’t just keep signing players because you have to keep them happy and if no one is going to leave, why would we keep signing players?” John Barnes said recently, adding: “If Liverpool were to make signings, I think with Arne Slot, Eze would probably be a better signing.”

Barnes elaborated: “Gordon under Klopp would probably have been a better signing because he’s much more dynamic in terms of going forward than Eze. Whereas Eze is much better on the ball, getting in close, getting the ball. You know, he’s more technical than Gordon.”

Some reports have suggested that Eze may even prefer a move to Liverpool over other options, as he feels he has a better chance of establishing himself in the starting line-up at Anfield. Of course, any interested party would have to meet his £60m release clause, with Crystal Palace having no appetite to accept anything less, having already sold Michael Olise to Bayern Munich. And why would they? Eze, after all, scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 27 Premier League appearances last season.

Mohammed Kudus is the latest striker to join the list of names linked with Liverpool, but given how quickly he has adapted to life in English football, it’s easy to see why.

The Ghanaian international was a key player for West Ham last season when he arrived from Ajax, registering 14 goals and six assists in 45 appearances in all competitions, recreating the kind of form that made him such a success in the Netherlands.

Kudus’s price tag is believed to have risen to a staggering £85m, which is a considerable increase on the £38m the Hammers paid for him last summer. But at the very least, Slot would be signing someone he is very familiar with, considering how many times he faced him during his time as Feyenoord manager.

The 23-year-old is also the most versatile option on this list, having played extensively across the front line and in midfield and attacking midfield positions.