Steve Harmison believes Newcastle fans have never forgiven Anthony Gordon for trying to engineer a move to Liverpool.
The England cricket legend and massive Toon fan was reacting to reports that the England international is contemplating a move away from St James’ Park this summer.
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eSPORTY understands Bayern Munich are interested in the versatile forward, with Vincent Kompany a huge fan.
Gordon is Newcastle’s top scorer this season with 17 in all competitions, but his performances in the Premier League have been underwhelming.
He has scored the majority of his goals in the Champions League, bagging ten.
And with a potential summer upheaval on the cards, Harmison feels that Newcastle fans would accept losing Gordon, and that a failed PSR move to Liverpool in the summer of 2024 has caused some unrest.
Gordon often takes the opportunity to publicly express his boyhood affection for Liverpool, while admitting he was left disappointed by the collapsed move two years ago.
Speaking on Breakfast with Ally McCoist and Gabby Agbonlahor, Harmison said: “The Anthony Gordon one is interesting. About 18 months ago, there was a rumour about him going to Liverpool, and I don’t think Newcastle fans have really forgiven that.
“Anthony Gordon came out and more or less said he’d be open to a move.
“His time on Tyneside has been hit and miss. When it’s been good, it’s been really good. In the Champions League, he has been unbelievable, and he’s scored penalties in the Premier League.
“I would like him to stay, I think there is a player there. He signed for £40million towards £45m with add-ons. He won a trophy, and he’s played two Champions League campaigns.
“He has become an international player under Eddie Howe.
“Now, the reports are saying he wants his future sorted out, but he’s contracted until 2030.”
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McCoist then said: “I am reading that there, and I am thinking his contract must be up at the end of the season, and then Gabby has just told me he’s got two or three years to go.”
Harmison responded: “It’s going to be a huge four or five weeks for Newcastle, and it’s going to be a huge three months – the World Cup isn’t going to help.
“Newcastle have four or five players that are probably leaving – Kieran Trippier has already said he’s going.
“But they have assets, which I don’t think Newcastle can afford to lose, and I am talking about the two full-backs in Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento.
“Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and if you want to put Gordon in there as well.
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“Newcastle don’t want those players to go, but there has been a lot of talk about Tonali. There has been a lot of talk about Gordon, and there has been a lot of talk about Livramento.
“If Newcastle fans were told one has to go, I think they’d say Gordon, and it’ll be interesting to see where it goes with Gordon.”
Flash Gordon
Gordon is never one to shy away from the media, and he has made Champions League history for Newcastle this season.
But he was booed off during a 3-2 defeat to Everton earlier this year after a poor performance.
The 25-year-old’s best displays have undoubtedly come in the Champions League, and you just have to look online to see that he divides the fan base.
Earlier this year, he was also accused of not wanting to start the first leg of the last-16 clash against Barcelona in the Champions League by Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer.
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Shearer said: “Maybe I’m old school, but if you’re fit enough to train in the morning, and I know he doesn’t feel well, but this is Barcelona at Newcastle for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
“It would take something extraordinary to keep myself out of this game tonight.”
And Rooney added: “He walked past us before the game and wouldn’t shake our hands.
“He said he didn’t want us to catch anything, but then he’s going into the dressing room with his teammates.”
But he was having none of it.
In a fiery interview, he hit back at the duo.
“Usually I don’t like to clear stuff up because I don’t care too much. But this one does need clearing up because it was just nonsense.
“When I got to the stadium, the manager told me I wasn’t playing, which I didn’t like very much, but that’s his decision and the team played well.
“Saying I didn’t want to play in the biggest game of my career is absolute nonsense.
“I think Rooney said I went past and didn’t shake their hands and went into the changing room. I didn’t.
“I got changed by myself in a changing room the size of this. It was just me and a sink. Complete nonsense.
“I think they need to do better at what they are doing.”
It was the response of a man who has total belief in his own abilities, and with a World Cup coming up, Gordon could look to explore a move away from Tyneside beforehand to ensure his future is sorted.
If that were to happen, Toon fans will just hope they avoid another Alexander Isak saga.
