Eddie Howe insists he will not play any player who he does not believe is fully committed to Newcastle United – but that does not mean that he is talking about Anthony Gordon.
Gordon has been linked with a move away from Newcastle United, with Bayern Munich reportedly keen.
According to The Sun, Arsenal are considering making a move for the England international too and Geordie Boot Boys understands that the Gunners have a long-term interest in the former Everton star.
As if we’d ever accept £60m! 😂
Howe refuses to discuss mounting transfer talk
Gordon is far from alone in being linked with a move away. Several key players are expected to leave Newcastle United this summer, with Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento also tipped to depart.
When asked during Friday’s pre-match press conference if he had spoken to Gordon about potentially leaving the club, Howe said: “I discuss things with players all the time. I don’t necessarily discuss transfer speculation unless I feel it’s got to a point that I have to.
Hard choice – but who are you selling if you were in charge? 🤔
Feel free to include anyone not pictured!
“After I had the chat with Sandro, the biggest thing I look for is the commitment to training because if I see that the player will perform. That will be the same with Anthony and every player.
“One thing I’m not going to do is play any player if I don’t feel they’re 100 per cent committed to the club and its future.”
There is no suggestion that any of these players have asked to leave the club, of course.
Still, fans could be forgiven for feeling rather miserable about it all. Last summer’s Alexander Isak saga was as bruising as they come, and the prospect of selling yet more key players is a concern.
Howe does not want players to use transfer talk as an excuse for poor performances
Newcastle play Bournemouth on Saturday and another home defeat would risk things turning even more toxic for Howe.
Fans have grown increasingly frustrated with the team’s performances this season and so much transfer speculation hanging over their key players is an unwelcome distraction.
Unsurprisingly, however, Howe does not want anyone to use mounting speculation as an excuse for poor performances between now and the end of the season.
He added: “I don’t want to use that as an excuse. When players are high-profile like the ones we have here, they’re in the news all the time for loads of different reasons.
“It comes with the territory. You have to adjust to it, adapt and understand it. You have to try to play to your best level with the noise around you. I don’t think you get to this level without the ability to do that.
“I don’t think any player can use that as an excuse. Certainly the lads internally aren’t. We know we have to play better.”
It certainly feels as if there will be a summer of upheaval on Tyneside. Howe is game for the challenge of rebuilding the Newcastle squad, but there may well be some high profile departures along the way.
What Newcastle can do to take control of the situation, however, is to try and do their business early while attempting to find the right replacements.
The mistakes made during the difficult summer of 2025 simply cannot be repeated. That would be a disaster.
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