Newcastle in talks to sign “special” £50m Arsenal star

On Wednesday evening, it was more heartbreak as England capitulated against Argentina, but former Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon can hold his head high.

The 25-year-old hadn’t always soared for the Magpies, but his speed and intensity down the left make for attributes which Eddie Howe will need to replace ahead of the new season, with Gordon having completed a £69m transfer to Barcelona.

The Toon have already signed Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim for £42m, but whether the 20-year-old has enough to effectively replace the Three Lions star from the outset remains to be seen.

Why Newcastle still haven’t replaced Gordon

From a wide lens, you could say that Newcastle have indeed replaced Gordon this summer. Toure is a dynamic and fleet-footed winger who has shown in the Bundesliga that he has a deep well of creativity from which he can draw from.

But the Ivory Coast international is young and raw, hardly the finished article. Newcastle didn’t pay for the finished article, though, instead securing a long-term Gordon replacement who will go from strength to strength over the coming years.

Such a move was needed after Liverpool hijacked the Toon’s deal for Osasuna’s Victor Munoz; signing such a profile was always going to be crucial in propping the Magpies back up after their 12th-place finish.

But the road from Europe to the Premier League is well-documented in its perils, and Toure will need time to adapt to a new and intense environment.

Harvey Barnes brings a clinical edge, but with Jacob Murphy rumoured to be heading for the St. James’ Park exit, Howe may want to push for another, more experienced Gordon replacement.

Newcastle in talks to sign their new Gordon

Newcastle will miss Gordon’s talismanic presence and his dynamism down the flanks and front. However, he scored six Premier League goals in each of his two recent seasons, and to say he’s irreplaceable would, quite simply, be incorrect.

Toure adds depth and mirrors a few of the England star’s qualities, but Howe needs more experience and snap in attack, which is perhaps why he is ramping up a move for Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli.

According to reports confirmed by Caught Offside, Martinelli could leave Arsenal this summer – and Newcastle have registered their interest alongside Man United and Bayern Munich. The Gunners have priced him at £50m, though that may be a touch unreasonable.

Talks are underway, though it’s unclear if they are advanced. The Brazil international, 25 years old, did not have a good 2025/26 season, despite his side’s Premier League triumph, and seems keen to move on.

While he struggled last term, Martinelli still finished the league season ranked inside the top 6% of wingers for assists and the top 20% for successful dribbles made per 90, his energy and athleticism allowing him to press against opponents and win the ball in dangerous areas.

He has also demonstrated recently that class is permanent while out with Brazil at the World Cup, hailed for his “special” goal against Japan, offering a potent threat besides.

In that, there is definitely something Gordon-esque about him, and while Toure might feel like a man with more potential crackling at his feet, it’s important to remember that many hopefuls have stumbled when leaping over to England, and hurling him in at the deep end could leave the Tynesiders in dire straits.

Martinelli, conversely, has long maintained a steady outpour of creativity, and while he only scored one goal last year, that is something of an anomaly, hitting 15 goals in 2022/23.

Once upon a time, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp actually hailed the Brazilian as a “talent of the century“, and though he has failed to kick on and place credence onto those words, Martinelli has shown in the past that he can thrive in the Premier League.

At Newcastle, he would gain a new lease of life, taking on a more focal role than he has enjoyed at the Emirates. His experience at the highest level, supported by his efforts at the World Cup, could see him replace and maybe even surpass Gordon.