Anthony Gordon’s transfer to Newcastle ‘wasn’t normal’ as Everton’s FFP claim is backed up

Anthony Gordon was signed by Newcastle United from Everton in January of last year, but the Magpies’ transfer window has changed significantly since then.

Eddie Howe acknowledged that Newcastle United does not have many Anthony Gordons on the field this month after the Magpies exploited Everton’s “financial issues” in the past.

It will soon be one year to the day that Newcastle acquired Gordon in a potentially £45 million move from Everton. Although Gordon had been a long-term target—Howe having followed him back to his loan spell at Preston North End—there was also some opportunism in the timing of this midseason transfer, considering Everton’s financial difficulties. Indeed, Everton manager Sean Dyche disclosed last week that the team would ‘not ordinarily’ have sold young players like Gordon, but the Toffees did so ‘to make sure the money was in’ for the deadlines they were set, a point that Howe essentially supported. Everton was already punished 10 points for a violation in the previous fiscal year, and now they are being accused with violating the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations.

Even if the black-and-whites made some money from a sale, Howe implied that punishment had been a “turning point” for teams, and the Newcastle manager was pragmatic about the chance of securing a long-term aim in the closing stages of the window.

“It sounds quite simple but when you’re sort of inside that, it’s never that easy,” he stated to reporters. “Yes, without a doubt. We would consider each circumstance and each move on its own merits, and we would be willing to consider it if we thought it strengthened the team. However, from what I’ve seen in this window, there aren’t many deals like that that can bring in players on long-term contracts. The January transfer Anthony made the previous season wasn’t your typical one. I believe that was a result of Everton’s then-current financial problems. We were only able to sign him because of it. I doubt that many people exist who fit that description.”