Liverpool faces costly Everton complication in $127m transfer pursuit

Liverpool is reportedly interested in signing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United. The England international, currently hoping to be selected by Gareth Southgate for Euro 2024, would not be cheap to acquire though.

It has been claimed by the Daily Star that the 23-year-old would cost $127m (£100m/€117m), which would make him the most expensive player in Liverpool history. Gordon only joined the Magpies in January last year, but to comply with profit and sustainability rules they are 'expected to offload at least one, possibly two players'.

The winger has reached double figures for both goals and assists this season, becoming the first Newcastle player in the 20-team Premier League era to achieve this feat. His current club would not want to lose him, but it’s Gordon’s former club who could become a beneficiary of Liverpool’s largesse.

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This obviously adds a little intrigue to the potential deal as Newcastle bought Gordon from the Reds’ Merseyside rivals Everton. According to the Liverpool Echo, the Blues would be set for a little windfall if their former player moves on. Everton is said to have a sell-on clause that would see it receive a significant financial bonus if Gordon completes a big money move to another club.

It is unlikely the Reds would be put off by the idea of giving their local rivals a financial boost if Gordon is the player they covet. Everton certainly needs any help it can get at present, with 777 Partners struggling to complete a deal to buy Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1 per cent stake in the club. The Blues’ director of football Kevin Thelwell recently admitted that “players will be sold” thanks to the club’s financial position too.

Gordon scored seven goals in 78 appearances for Everton, yet admitted to idolizing a Liverpool legend when growing up while speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap. "Steven Gerrard was my football hero growing up,” he said. “Coming from Liverpool, he was like a God in Liverpool, and he was an unbelievable player."

It sounds like he would be open to joining the Reds. It's going to take a record breaking fee to make it happen, though, and Evertonians will have their fingers crossed that FSG loosens its purse strings.

Liverpool.com says: Gordon is a talent, no doubt, but it feels unlikely that the Reds would commit so much money to a position for which they already have plenty of cover. With Newcastle needing funds thanks to PSR rules, might it set the price even higher than reported with Everton set to receive a chunk of the fee? A current Red would need to leave for big money this summer before this deal appears plausible.