Virgil van Dijk already knows what Anthony Gordon would offer as next Liverpool move should be clear

While there was no chance that Liverpool would ever allow Jarell Quansah to leave as part of a deal for Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon, that should not be the end of the transfer interest in the 23-year-old winger.

The fact is, Gordon would be ideal for the way that Liverpool plays — and will continue to play under Arne Slot — with his direct running, his explosive pace, and his near-perfect decision-making in the final third. When it comes to speed and output, he is everything that Liverpool looks for in its wide players.

It is clear, of course, that Liverpool has multiple options to play down the left flank already. Gordon, as a result, could be termed a luxury this summer rather than a necessity — but he would undoubtedly be an upgrade.

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Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo can both play off the left, though we are yet to see the latter do so consistently for Liverpool. Meanwhile, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez are also options there but are likely to be required through the middle.

Gordon's double figures for both goals and assists last season trumps the output of any of the players likely to be deployed off the left flank, playing for a side that finished 22 points behind the Reds. With better players around him, he could quickly explode even further.

Last season's game away at Newcastle will be remembered by Liverpool mainly for Nunez's brilliant brace that turned the result on its head, but Gordon caused all sorts of problems for the Reds' defense. He was, as he often is, a real menace.

Gordon pounced on a lapse by Trent Alexander-Arnold and then clinically ran through to slide the ball underneath Alisson Becker. Most forwards wouldn't have been able to beat the Brazilian but he coolly selected and executed the right finish.

After that, it was Gordon's perfect pass into the feet of Alexander Isak that forced the challenge from Virgil van Dijk that saw the Liverpool skipper get sent off. While that was a controversial red card, the Dutchman was lured in by a superb through pass.

Gordon, already substituted by the time Nunez's heroics began, could do nothing as Liverpool turned the result around. In fact, it was the removal of such a threat that helped facilitate the comeback and gave the Reds some unlikely hope.

And given that was not a one-off performance by Gordon last season, who was consistently available and consistently producing goals and assists, Liverpool should still remain keen on him.

Having offered him up as a possible solution to its PSR woes, that will surely go against Newcastle in any upcoming contract negotiations — and Gordon only has two years left on his current deal.

Liverpool should try and get Gordon this summer if there is any chance of that happening, but if he doesn't sign a new deal in the next year, Newcastle's hand might be forced in a different way. In 12 months, he would have the threat of being able to walk away for free shortly afterward — and in 2025, he will still only be 24.