Anthony Gordon is set to MISS Newcastle’s trip to Arsenal on Saturday, Newcastle Confidential can reveal.
The winger has not trained this week because of a hip injury, a problem he felt during the 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace on April 12. Despite online conspiracies to the contrary, and amid speculation over his future, multiple sources have confirmed that Gordon is injured.
A scan has shown the problem not to be too serious, but the discomfort has lingered in recent days. He missed last weekend’s 2-1 defeat by Bournemouth. Gordon is expected to play again this season but, at present, there is no definite return date. Sources say the 25-year-old is determined to return as soon as possible.
However, beyond this season, his future is unknown. Newcastle are 13 points off the Champions League places with five games to go and so will almost certainly miss out on qualifying for Europe’s premier competition. When that happens, interest in him will intensify.
CEO David Hopkinson revealed this month that, because of financial rules, the club need to sell some star players to fund their summer incomings, and Gordon is among those most likely to be traded.
Bayern Munich are one suitor but, with four years to run on the player’s contract, Newcastle are in a stronger position on the England international than they are on some others when it comes to negotiating any potential fee.
Anthony Gordon is set to miss Newcastle’s trip to title-chasing Arsenal on Saturday teatime with a hip injury suffered at Crystal Palace two weeks ago
Will Trafford be third time lucky?
Newcastle will revisit their interest in Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford this summer, Confidential can reveal.
It was previously thought a move for the England stopper was off the table after two failed attempts to sign him in 2024 and 2025.
However, with Newcastle targeting a new No 1 as a priority and Trafford looking to leave City in search of regular football, his name is back on the list inside St James’ Park.
Others are being tracked, not least because of competition for the 23-year-old and a salary at City that is close to double what he is thought to have agreed with Newcastle last summer.
That deal looked set to happen before City activated a clause to re-sign their former youth player for £27m, only to then sign Gianluigi Donnarumma and relegate Trafford to the bench. The Cumbrian felt like he had been misled and we understand he has now dropped the agency who brokered the move.
Twelve months earlier, in 2024, Trafford was also ready to join Newcastle in an £18m deal before negotiations between sporting director Paul Mitchell and Burnley broke down. That lingering animosity, from Burnley’s side, did not help last summer.
It would, then, be third time lucky for the Magpies, who have long since seen Trafford as the ideal profile for a Premier League goalkeeper. An asking price of £35-40m would unlikely be prohibitive, but it does mean stiff competition from home and abroad.
Newcastle are also watching the likes of Bart Verbruggen at Brighton, Robin Risser of RC Lens and Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel. However, in the case of the latter, it is thought the Swiss international is more likely to remain at Dortmund, especially given a salary that would make him the top earner at a vast number of Premier League clubs.
Newcastle are primed to push to sign James Trafford for a third summer in a row, having been beaten to his signing by Manchester City last year
Gregor Kobel, who kept two Champions League clean sheets against Newcastle in the 2023-24 group stage for Borussia Dortmund, is on the Magpies’ radar but his wages could be prohibitive
John’s a Ruddy good bloke
Sticking with goalkeepers, John Ruddy is set to leave the club this summer when his contract expires.
Confidential can reveal that this has now been agreed and the hugely popular veteran is considering a career as a sporting director.
All I’ve heard about Ruddy during his two years at the club suggests he would make a success of a senior role within the game. He has often been the man to take team-mates to one side in the canteen or dressing room and listen to whatever concerns they may have, offering advice from his 22 years as a professional.
Players and staff have spoken highly of his influence, something that is perhaps missed on the outside given the 39-year-old is yet to make a competitive appearance.
Ruddy’s departure means Mark Gillespie, who is also out of contract, could remain and continue in the role of training goalkeeper, with a future in coaching likely.
Pope ready to resurrect his season
And finally, at least on the goalkeeping front, could we see Nick Pope back in between the posts this season?
Eddie Howe always leaves team selection until later in the week, but the word is the 34-year-old has been pushing hard for a recall after two months of playing understudy to loanee Aaron Ramsdale.
Personally, I think Pope’s shot-stopping ability, especially in a team that is struggling defensively, would make his inclusion during the run-in a smart move.
Nick Pope’s shot-stopping ability could be crucial in the run-in for a Newcastle team that has been shipping goals recently
Wissa in the goals behind closed doors
Yoane Wissa is another desperate to play before the end of the season, and Confidential can report that he scored a couple of goals in a behind-closed-doors practice match last week.
The 29-year-old was part of the XI that included more Under 21s players, but his performance was praised by staff.
Wissa then remained on the bench during the 2-1 defeat by Bournemouth last weekend and, clearly, he still needs to convince the management team of his readiness. But the word is that the striker has shown improvement and is determined to use his recent frustration to prove his worth before the campaign is out.
It’s La Manga for the Mags
Newcastle will be based at the exclusive La Manga Club in Murcia this pre-season, Confidential can reveal.
After exploring options in the United States, Austria and Portugal, a decision has been taken to train at the internationally-renowned resort on the south-east coast of Spain.
With eight FIFA-standard grass pitches, a mini stadium, as well as golf courses, tennis, padel and spa facilities, the destination has long since been a favourite of elite football clubs. Eddie Howe and Bournemouth used La Manga in 2018, while Newcastle trained there in 2016.
Howe’s side will play a friendly match during their time in Spain, but details are still being confirmed. A game against Valencia, who play a three-hour drive away, was mooted during previous discussions.
The decision to stay within Europe rather than a fourth straight summer of long-haul tours has been made with football preparations in mind. The benefit of a commercially-driven trip this time around was not deemed as lucrative as previous years, especially in a post World Cup environment with star players missing and audiences perhaps suffering from football fatigue.
Eddie Howe with his Bournemouth squad (including future Newcastle striker Callum Wilson) on the beach at La Manga Club in 2019
Matfen shutters are down
Finally, if you want to book a room and be part of the Saudi summit at Matfen Hall next week… you can’t! I know, because I’ve tried!
This time around, Newcastle have exclusive use of the rooms at the plush Northumberland hideaway.
As revealed by Confidential last Thursday, all of the PIF bigwigs will be in town for the off-site meeting, during which infrastructural projects such as stadiums and training grounds will be top of the agenda. An announcement on the £200m training ground development at Woolsington is likely to follow.
It was during last year’s summit, with chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan in attendance, that I had a coffee in the bar at Matfen Hall when all of the hierarchy broke for lunch. My presence raised some eyebrows and certainly lowered their voices. All good fun, and all in the name of information and colour for the readership!
