For the past six weeks or so we have been hearing in the media about how an Anthony Gordon move to Bayern Munich is all but done.
This is regardless of the fact that Bayern’s front three of Diaz, Kane and Olise each have a combined goals and assists tally of 38+ in all competitions this season . Diaz is the only one with less than 40 is likely to get there in the remaining matches.
The Bundesliga champions’ only other regular attacking starter is Gnabry as the playmaker (in a 4-2-3-1) and none of this quartet are likely to move on (though some in the Premier League are trying to entice Olise).
Paying £80m for a benchwarmer doesn’t fit in with how Bayern Munich acted on Nick Woltemade last summer.
But just in case Anthony Gordon was to move on, what would we be losing?
While a large section of the fanbase (like any other fanbase) doesn’t look beyond goals, assists and match results, and in the case where you’re part of the matchday going crowd – passionate effort (running/tackling) on the field – though that’s forgotten if the first two factors aren’t looking good (Anthony Gordon being a live example), Gordon’s biggest value lies in being the spearhead of the press (something Almiron was in the initial days of Howe-ball). The fastest player with unending stamina and dogged determination for running at the entire back five (including the goalkeeper).
The other two at the head of the press ought to follow his lead (something Newcastle United have been less successful at this season) as well as the next wave of three pushing up when Anthony Gordon closes someone down.
We can replace a winger who scores the odd (non-pen) goal and provides some crosses that turn into assists as well as tracks back to help the full-back. In fact we could likely upgrade him (such as Antonio Nusa of RB Leipzig – someone I’d pointed out in my 2026 summary of who I think NUFC needed to get during the two transfer windows of this year) in terms of pure skill. But add the 90 minutes long closing down of defenders like your life depends on it and you’re looking at something a little harder to replace (also why we need to up Gordon’s price closer to £100m), though Nusa is quite enterprising that way too, perhaps with slightly lesser speed.
So if indeed Anthony Gordon is hell bent on upping sticks, where do we find someone with that quality?
Well, we could look outside but we have a readymade replacement right there in the squad. Who is he??? Well, a certain William Osula! Tireless running, great pace, desire to take on all-comers, permanent leftover energy to burn. He has already led the press for the last month in Gordon’s absence, albeit as a centre-forward.
This would help solve another conundrum at Newcastle United right now. With both Woltemade and Wissa in need of a reset (hopefully achieved during the summer training) and the difficulty of selling either (and incurring some losses, not to mention them showing their unquestionable quality elsewhere subsequently) the pressure to sell Osula has been a constant this season to make space for a 3rd forward to come in, despite all and sundry knowing the talent that he has needs to be kept and nurtured.
By reinventing William Osula as a winger (while still being a back up forward) we can make space for another forward to arrive (as a replacement for either Anthony Gordon or another winger who leaves). How would this be achieved? Well, Osula thrives on the right wing rather than left. However, Elanga has played in the past on the left for Forest amd can be tried in the summer there, it might even revitalise his NUFC career given that he’s two-footed.
Then if Anthony Gordon leaves, we may not replace him with a winger but with a forward (given Woltemade can also play as a playmaker and Wissa as a wide forward – alongside another centre-forward).
Also, given that our senior 25 man Premier League squad is a couple of outfield players short right now (we put four goalkeepers in the squad for first half of the season and then didn’t replace Lascelles in January, in fact Harrison Ashby’s been in the squad in name only) we could choose to add an extra attacker and get both a winger and a forward in (if the budget allows) especially if one of them is 21 or under – the way Osula was in his first season.
Pre-season would also show us whether a 31 year old Murphy looks like he can still deliver over a full season, whether an Elanga wing switch can be a success, whether any of our young wingers (Trevan Sanusi, Seung-soo Park) can step up to bolster the squad. The only attacker I’d say is a certainty for next season right now is the one I’d written in December that we might upgrade with Nusa – Harvey Barnes. He’s proven himself this season – not only by continuing to score crucial goals but also by adapting better to playing on the right when the team needs it. However, we do need to bear in mind that at 29 years in the coming season and with two years left on his contract, this could be the time to cash in on him and get a younger winger (Nusa) while Barnes’ stock is high. This might be what we need to do in case Anthony Gordon doesn’t leave.
While the need for goalkeepers and full-backs is likely the prime focus for the summer, given how threadbare we’re likely to end up in those positions. Getting the attack right is crucial after what’s happened this season with missing chances galore and then getting punished by a clinical opponent at the other end (Brentford, Brighton, Marseille, Barcelona, Liverpool, Everton etc etc..), if we are to get back into the top four or five immediately.
There’s also the possibility of Joe Willock leaving. He’s playing his best football in three years or so right now but it is a quandary as to whether we can risk giving him a new five year contract and whether he’d be ok with a three year one.
Not to mention Lewis Miley needing to get over his latest injury, a fractured fibula in training this past week.
If Fabian Schar decides to move on then we’ll really be stretched with our budget, as well as the number of bodies needed through the door, likely needing some outgoings to support the budget.
Or else be left with a smaller than 25 man senior Premier League squad yet again (not a good thing, but if we’re without European football, not an emergency situation either – unlike this 2025/26 season).
Repositioning Osula and Elanga, while letting Gordon go, could go some way in helping manage the situation successfully.
Of course if Sandro Tonali and/or Tino Livramento were to leave, we could hold onto Anthony Gordon, but would need a first XI replacement for those as well.
This summer’s shaping up to be the most important transfer window for these Newcastle United owners and could shape our fortunes for the rest of the decade.