Gordon Gone. Who's Next?

With Anthony Gordon off to Barcelona for his medical ahead of his move to the Nou Camp for a reported £70M this summer's transfer business has got off to an early start.

Overrated & a good deal for NUFC?

There has been a surprising acceptance among Toon fans that two or even three of our top players will be sold this summer. A far cry from the response during Ashley's years.

Gordon encapsulates that acceptance with very few fans overly disappointed that his stint at NUFC has come to an end.

Many fans, and many in the national media, think £70M is a good deal and are scratching their heads that Barcelona of all clubs are willing to pay it.

Gordon's standout season was 23/24 with his 35 appearances bringing 11 goals, 10 assists, and a call up and debut for England. Whilst that tally hasn't been repeated in the last two PL seasons his overall record is 152 appearances, 39 goals and 22 assists.

To put that in perspective; Miggy Almiron played 223 games, with 30 goals and 12 assists.

At 25 Gordon should be coming into his peak years and with the calibre of players he'll be playing with at Barcelona my belief is his stats during that standout 23/24 season will become the norm.

I think it's not a bad deal at all for Barca.

Whether it's a good deal for NUFC depends on the stats of his replacement.

Anthony Elanga cost £55M and scored one goal last season. A sobering stat for sure.

Bruno our top PL scorer amid Barnes rumours

With Gordon hitting the goal trail in the CL with ten and sixteen for the season overall, it was Bruno with nine who topped the PL chart. Who would have forecast that?

Our ST's, Woltemade and Wissa, scored 8 and 1, with Will Osula on 7 with 5 of those in seven starts and 2 in sixteen as a sub.

That puts Will ahead of the other two W's for a ST start from the off next season.

However, of our 53 goals last season 13, 1 in 4, were scored by Gordon and Barnes on 6 and 7 respectively. And there are now rumours that Barnes could be on the move.

The rumours are that despite his goals Barnes is not well chuffed that he isn't a nailed on starter and Aston Villa are one of the clubs reportedly interested - with Morgan Rogers looking increasingly likely to move on.

With Gordon effectively gone, if Barnes were to leave that is one big void to fill in terms of goals - especially when you consider that the only PL wingers to score more than six were Mbuemo, Semenyo, Bowen and Salah.

We won;t be signing wingers of that proven PL calibre which highlights yet again how critical it is that this summers recruitment has to be nothing short of spectacular if we are to seriously challenge for a PL spot next season.

Who is next to leave... and who wants to?

Tino, Tonali and Hall are the three that head the rumour machine.

Bruno is an outsider with Willock apparently no longer part of Eddie's plans.

The key with the first three mentioned is not just whether the club want to sell, but whether they want to stay.

No CL and Gordon off to Barca for big wages will undoubtedly influence the decisions of players who know they have suitors.

Tread water at NUFC, or jump on the trophy winning gravy boat elsewhere?

Whilst I don't expect a repeat of Isak's strike he has sent a clear signal that if you insist you want away... you'll get away.

The club, and Eddie especially, have said they only want to sign players who want to play for NUFC. Does that apply to those already here?

If it does, the plans that the club have on who they want to keep may be upended.

A massive test of management

My feeling, and I am sure many fans share it, is that whilst the wheels haven't come off at NUFC... some nuts are slack and the tyres are deflated.

Whether we sell one player or five, or however many we bring in, PIF will have sent a message to the ;powers at SJP that a repeat of this season's PL form is unacceptable.

The coming months are a massive test of management.

Gordon's exit has kicked off the start of that test.

The hard part of the exam lies ahead.

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