Liverpool turned down Anthony Gordon move as Newcastle wanted Jarell Quansah in exchange

Liverpool have rejected a chance to sign Newcastle United and England winger Anthony Gordon in a deal which would have seen centre-back Jarell Quansah move to St James’ Park.

The Merseyside club was approached by Newcastle with the proposal but said they have no interest in allowing their young defender leave after establishing himself as a critical member of the first team squad.

Gordon, a boyhood Liverpool supporter who joined Newcastle from neighbours Everton in a £45 million deal in January 2023, is admired by the Anfield recruitment team.

However, sacrificing 21-year-old England international Quansah was a price they were unwilling to pay in order to complete what would have been the first surprising transfer of this window. Liverpool did not make any counter offer.

Newcastle’s willingness to entertain the prospect of selling Gordon underlines their desperation to abide by the Profit and Sustainability Rules with a pressing accounting deadline on Sunday evening.

Many of Eddie Howe’s prized assets have been linked with big-money moves since the end of last season. Howe clearly has no desire to lose Gordon, or star striker Alexander Isak who is the subject of interest from Chelsea, but considerations are being taken for financial rather than footballing reasons.

As Gordon is away with the England team preparing for Sunday’s round of 16 Euro 2024 tie with Slovakia, any move would have required frantic last minute negotiations and a medical at the national team’s training camp.

Liverpool are likely to be one of the few rival Premier League clubs whose potential interest would have been met with enthusiasm by the 23-year-old winger, despite the unusual circumstances and timing of the conversations between the clubs.

For Liverpool’s part, while a more attractive proposal might have extended negotiations given they rate Gordon, signing him at this moment would have created an overload of wide players who would expect to be in new manager Arne Slot’s preferred starting XI for the upcoming season.

Luis Diaz is a crowd favourite and was the automatic choice on the left under Jurgen Klopp. He has been linked with numerous overseas clubs in the last six months but – as yet – there has been no suggestion publicly from him or his camp that he is thinking of leaving.

Diaz still has two years left on his Anfield contract and it would require a massive offer for Liverpool to sell a player who cost £50 million in 2022 and is now valued considerably higher.