Anthony Gordon has admitted he was on the verge of leaving Newcastle United for Liverpool last summer, as the Magpies rejected a bid for Alexander Isak from the Reds. The 24-year-old winger revealed that a deal to take him to Anfield was explored as Newcastle sought to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules, but ultimately he remained at St James' Park.
Speaking about the transfer speculation, Gordon expressed sympathy for teammate Alexander Isak, who is currently being pursued by Liverpool. Newcastle have turned down an offer for the Swedish striker, who scored 27 goals last season, and are reportedly demanding a fee of at least £150 million to part with him. Isak is currently absent from Newcastle's pre-season tour and training alone at Real Sociedad.
Gordon reflected on the mental toll of last summer's uncertainty, saying, 'It was difficult for me because one, I had the Euros, which was horrendous for me mentally. Then I had the transfer stuff. With PSR, I thought I was going to leave at some point in the window. It didn’t happen. I had to get my head around that.' He added that he understands what Isak is going through, noting, 'People forget you’re a human-being in that scenario.'
The former Everton star also highlighted the challenges for the squad amid the ongoing discussions about Isak's future. 'It's difficult for us, because there’s only so much we can actually do. We don’t actually know a lot,' Gordon said. 'As players, you just have to play. Do what is required of us and do the basics.'
