How the Alexander Isak saga has affected Newcastle’s sale of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona

Newcastle United have reached an agreement to sell Anthony Gordon to Barcelona in a deal worth around £69million.

The La Liga champions have moved quickly, beating the likes of Arsenal and Bayern Munich to the 25-year-old’s signature.

Gordon will travel to the World Cup in the coming days with his future determined already, allowing Newcastle to get on with their incoming business.

The Magpies were always due to make a big sale this summer, after missing out on any form of European football for next season.

Newcastle transfer chiefs will be delighted to have agreed that sale so quickly, with the Alexander Isak saga still fresh in the memory.

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Football Insider exclusively revealed on Monday that Newcastle are targeting a move for Liam Delap this summer, among other options.

The Magpies are keen to refresh Eddie Howe’s squad after a hugely disappointing campaign that has seen them fall from fifth to 12th.

The manager himself will also hope for a far less turbulent summer this time around, after Isak’s situation provided a distraction for almost the entirety of the transfer window last year.

The Swede refused to join Newcastle on their pre-season tour and ultimately refused to train at all, as he attempted to push through a transfer request to join Liverpool.

Decision-makers initially held firm in their stance that he would not leave, and bids from the Reds, combined with a public statement from Isak, kept every eye on the situation throughout the summer.

Newcastle ultimately relinquished, got their replacements and accepted a Premier League-record fee on transfer deadline day, but the damage was already done.

🚨 Barcelona reach agreement with Newcastle United to sign Anthony Gordon. #FCBarcelona deal for 25yo winger €80m + future sale % to #NUFC – personal terms fine. Bayern Munich pursed England int’l but #FCBayern unwilling to hit asking price @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/MvUHXko2r0

Luckily, the way the Gordon situation, which had the potential to morph into something similar, has been handled has shown that lessons were learned.

Newcastle have several positions of need in their squad this summer, with a number of players set to leave.

Gordon’s exit will, of course, leave the Magpies needing a new left-winger, while Kieran Trippier, Aaron Ramsdale and Emil Krafth will also need to be replaced.

We'll be paying tribute to both Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth at St. James' Park today.

Tripps will receive his presentation and address the crowd approximately 15 minutes before kick-off, and Krafu will join us on the pitch for the same shortly after the half-time whistle.… pic.twitter.com/KGLvechHFv

Fabian Schar could also still leave the club in the coming days, while Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento have been heavily linked with summer exits.

The fee Newcastle have received for Gordon should free up significant funds for transfer chiefs to use, although another big-money sale could well follow.

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