Eddie Howe has dropped a heavy hint that Anthony Gordon’s time at Newcastle is almost over. Bayern Munich are negotiating to sign the England winger, and Gordon seems likely to once again be left on the bench when Newcastle host West Ham on Sunday evening.
“When you get to this stage of the season, part of what we will be doing is looking to next year, naturally,” said Howe on Friday. “There are discussions that potentially might be happening (talks with Bayern regarding Gordon’s future) but not with me.”
Gordon last played for Newcastle in mid-April. He subsequently missed two games with a minor hip injury and was then an unused substitute in a home win against Brighton and a draw at Nottingham Forest.
“Anthony’s just come back from injury,” said Howe. “The team has played well in his absence, and it (leaving him on the bench) was with a partial view to the future, yes. We are going into a summer where there are a lot of unknowns and there will be a lot of change for us.”
Although agreeing personal terms with Bayern is not thought to represent a problem for Gordon, the Bundesliga champions appear reluctant to pay the £75m demanded by Newcastle and are attempting to force the price down by around £10m. Asked if he would consider playing Gordon in the final two games of the season, Howe’s reply was telling. “I put the team and the club above any individual,” he said. “So, if it was the right thing, then I would play him, of course.”
Although seven or eight players are expected to depart Newcastle this summer, and the exits of Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth have already been confirmed, Howe revealed that Fabian Schar could be staying after all. The Switzerland defender’s contract ends next month, but Newcastle appear ready to discuss a one-year extension with the 34-year-old.
“Fabian still has a lot to offer on the pitch,” said Howe. “We will have discussions with him and his representatives in the next week. It’s not necessarily about farewell for Fabian.”
Farke Hints at Leeds Departure if Club Do Not Match His Ambitions
Daniel Farke has suggested he could leave Leeds if the club’s hierarchy fail to match his ambition. Farke is due to discuss extending his contract at Leeds, which is set to expire next year, with the San Francisco-based 49er Enterprises but has made it clear his vision will need to be synchronised with the ownership’s ambitions.
“I understand the questions about the future, I don’t want to hide away,” said Farke, who, a year after leading Leeds to the Championship title, has secured Premier League survival and also reached an FA Cup semi-final. “But I won’t speak about possible outcomes. We will discuss things internally.
“I can allow myself to be picky. I will only take on projects I believe in. I am ambitious. I love attacking football and I want to have something to play for. I’m not the right choice if it’s about maintaining the status quo. I have to be convinced of the project.”
Farke is well aware that certain influential figures at Leeds pondered parting company with him following last summer’s promotion and then after a sticky spell in late autumn. Now, though, he is hot property. “I’m full of belief and energy but we have to speak about next steps,” said the German. “We have to have another three to five-year plan. I won’t want to take over a club if I don’t think we are going in the right direction. You have to set new goals. It’s important that we are on the same page.
“The truth is that this is our second good Premier League season in 25 years, so it’s important we don’t repeat the same mistakes. You have to develop and evolve. The first two years (after promotion) are the most difficult. This club has to be on alert for the second season. Next season will be a difficult one.”
Bournemouth Confirm Senesi Will Leave in Summer
Bournemouth have confirmed that sought-after defender Marcos Senesi will leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires. The centre-back arrived on the south coast from Feyenoord in 2022, and his form since joining will doubtless make him a major target for suitors this summer.
“From the first day I arrived, I felt at home at this club,” Senesi told the club website. “I’m proud of everything we achieved over the last four years and I’m grateful for the support the fans have always given me.
“AFC Bournemouth will always hold a special place for me, and I will look back at my time here with fond memories. For now, there are still two big games left of the season, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together.”
Spurs to Spend Weekend Off Watching West Ham
Richarlison has confirmed Tottenham will keep an eye on West Ham’s trip to Newcastle, but urged his teammates to stay calm in the relegation battle. Spurs are 17th in the Premier League and hold a two-point advantage over the bottom three ahead of this weekend, where Roberto De Zerbi’s side are without a fixture.
Tottenham are next in action on Tuesday away to rivals Chelsea – who contest Saturday’s FA Cup final with Manchester City – and may have dropped into the relegation zone if West Ham win at Newcastle on Sunday. Monday’s 1-1 draw at home to Leeds made it four unbeaten for Spurs, but also represented a missed opportunity to put another nail in the coffin of 18th-placed West Ham.
“It’s tough, but point by point we’re making progress and depending on the result of next weekend’s game, with one more point we can avoid relegation,” Richarlison told ESPN Brasil. “We’ll be keeping an eye on (West Ham), but we need to do our part.
“We have the advantage of scoring well away from home, so it’s about staying calm. We played a very intense game (against Leeds), unfortunately we conceded a penalty goal, it’s part of football. Now it’s about continuing with these last two games.”
Fernandes Targets Trophies with Manchester United
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes remains determined to help drive the team on to more collective success next season. The 31-year-old has played a central role under interim head coach Michael Carrick, with a resurgent United side pushing themselves back up to third in the table and securing Champions League qualification once again.
Portugal playmaker Fernandes is just one away from equalling the Premier League record of 20 assists in a single season, which is shared by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry. Fernandes’ impact at the heart of the United team has seen him voted the men’s Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association.
“(Winning a trophy) will always be the prize for me, that is my goal and is always going to be. I have never hidden from that,” Fernandes said in an interview with the FWA YouTube channel. “What I want to achieve is winning – winning the (Premier) League and winning the Champions League. I never ever hide from that. Now obviously going into next season, we all know the aim of this club has to be always winning.
“I think in the first place, when a player chooses to come to Man United, it is not because they just kind of wear the shirt. Obviously, that is a big feeling, and it is a big thing to walk out on Old Trafford and that was the dream I had. But I had that dream because I knew the club could win things and could be close to win the Premier League and the Champions League, that is why I came to this club.”
Glasner Warns Weary Palace to Give Their All to the Very End
Oliver Glasner insists he will no longer be talking about rotation at Crystal Palace, and if any player does not feel ready to give their all through to the end of the campaign they should “look for another job”. With Palace set for the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig at the end of May, their manager has been unapologetic over the need to manage workload.
“I don’t talk about the amount of games any more and rotating,” Glasner said. “Players are fit, and if somebody doesn’t feel ready for a final in 10 days, it is ‘look for another job’. Now it is the most important part of the season, very exciting, everybody is fresh and that is why we won’t rotate massively.
“In every single game, we never want to risk an injury, that is why I think we could survive this season, with 60 games played. A few knee, ankle, shoulder, concussion injuries you can’t avoid when you play so many games, but where we could get more influences is muscle injuries, and this we could really reduce, and now the players are fit.”
Evann Guessand could return from a knee issue, but Borna Sosa continues to be assessed on his own muscular problem.
Le Bris Says Award Nomination Is ‘Collective Achievement’
Regis Le Bris praised a “collective achievement” in securing his Premier League manager of the season nomination. The Sunderland manager has overseen a stellar campaign with the newly promoted Black Cats, and they have been in the mix throughout the past few months to potentially finish in a European spot.
“I’m really proud. For me, for the club, the staff and the players obviously because it’s a collective achievement,” Le Bris said. “No matter the result at the end, it highlights once again the quality of the group and the season overall. This kind of recognition is really important for us.”
Le Bris is one of six names in contention for the award, with Brentford’s Keith Andrews, Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Manchester United’s Michael Carrick, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola also on the shortlist.
Asked if he thinks he deserves to win it, Le Bris said: “I don’t think so! It’s going to be hard because if you look at the other managers I think the final position of your team, if you win the Champions League, the league, I think you deserve recognition. It’s good to be recognised like this, but we have to stay humble as well. I’m really pleased to be in that bracket but after that I think others will have the final reward.”
Hinshelwood Closes on Brighton Record
Jack Hinshelwood could break a notable record at Leeds on Sunday – and he has former Brighton hero Bobby Zamora to thank. Hinshelwood has scored in his last three Premier League matches, and no Seagulls player has ever found the net in four consecutive games in the competition.
“They did have some sessions this week with Bobby, but it’s for general development rather than chasing a record,” boss Fabian Hürzeler told reporters. “He’s not doing it for the statistic or the record, he’s doing it for his individual development. He is a player who always wants to improve.
“He always shows great effort in training. He wants to be part of the team, improve, adjust and learn. One of his biggest strengths is his flexibility, he can play in several positions. Now he is in a No 10 position and it seems to be a good fit. He has a desire to score. He isn’t just a box-to-box player – he really attacks the opponent’s box. That’s important for our game, and I’m very pleased with how he’s performing.”
