Rumors have been swirling since Monday evening: Is Anthony Gordon heading to FC Bayern in the summer? While it seems plausible, it remains unlikely.
FC Bayern Munich and other interested clubs might have a significant advantage in the pursuit of Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon. According to Fabrizio Romano, it’s highly probable that the Magpies will be forced to sell at least one, or even two, top players this summer.
‘This is due to Financial Fair Play and enormous squad costs. They have to consider it,’ the transfer insider reported on his YouTube channel. Besides Gordon, midfielders Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes have also attracted interest from other clubs. However, in Gordon’s case, several factors apparently favor his departure.
Romano claims that while the Magpies wouldn’t sell all these players, ‘there is a possibility with Anthony Gordon if a large offer comes in. Initial clubs are involved, initial discussions are taking place – also from the Premier League.’
FC Bayern Reportedly in ‘Very Concrete’ Talks with Anthony Gordon
Earlier, Sky was more explicit about FC Bayern’s interest in Gordon, stating that discussions with the English international have become ‘very concrete,’ although no exchange with Newcastle has occurred yet. The 25-year-old is reportedly the ‘absolute top candidate’ for the left-wing vacancy, behind the currently indispensable Luis Diaz.
Sky suggests a potential price tag of 60 million Euros for Gordon. However, this figure is likely to elicit only a wry smile from the Magpies, even with the apparent pressure from Financial Fair Play. Gordon is reportedly also coveted by financially strong English top clubs. In late February, The Sun reported that FC Liverpool and FC Arsenal were also exploring options for the attacking player, with the Gunners allegedly ready to offer up to 92 million Euros.
FC Bayern is unlikely to spend such a sum for a backup to a key player like Luis Diaz and would likely withdraw from the transfer race quickly if these figures are accurate. Such expensive transfers would not fit the club’s current squad strategy for the medium-term future.
FC Bayern Aims to Give Own Youth Academy Chances in Backup Roles
The club aims to foster further academy talents, following the successful examples of Josip Stanisic, Lennart Karl, and Aleksandar Pavlovic. These players are expected to either move directly to the first team or eventually make their way there via loan spells, initially filling backup roles and potentially becoming cost-effective regular starters in the future.
Noel Aseko could be another player from the academy to establish himself this summer. The German junior international is having a strong loan season at Hannover 96 in the 2nd Bundesliga and could potentially fill Leon Goretzka’s squad position upon his return to the German record champions, via a buy-back option.
A similarly cost-effective scenario is envisioned for Arijon Ibrahimovic, who could also serve as a backup to Diaz, unlike Gordon, without incurring a transfer fee. Ibrahimovic, like Aseko, is having a good loan spell at Heidenheim, who are set to be relegated from the Bundesliga. He is a regular starter there, getting significant playing time, and is contracted with FCB until 2027. However, the qualitative difference to an established Premier League star like Gordon is, of course, significant.
Gordon currently has 17 goals and five assists in 46 competitive games for the Magpies. He himself is reportedly not averse to a move to Munich, but it’s questionable whether he would be content with a backup role. On the other hand, he could potentially deputize for his national team captain Harry Kane in the center-forward position in case of injury.
Gordon’s profile as a lightning-fast, skillful dribbler, and goal-scoring right-footer operating on the left wing is fundamentally interesting for Bayern. The Englishman can play virtually any attacking position and has primarily been deployed as a left winger or center forward for Newcastle this season. This opens up a gap behind Kane in the summer due to the departure of loanee Nicolas Jackson.