Newcastle’s Summer Crisis: Anthony Gordon Exit Adds to Striker Woes
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| Gordon to Bayern |
Anthony Gordon’s 17 goals make him Newcastle’s standout this season. If he leaves for Bayern, Eddie Howe faces an even tougher task rebuilding the squad.
With Wissa and Woltemade underperforming and Gordon set for Bayern, Newcastle face tough questions over recruitment and finances ahead of 2026/27...
Following another frustrating season for Newcastle, attention has shifted to how the club can turn things around ahead of 2026/27.
But instead of optimism, the outlook looks bleaker, with signs pointing to things getting worse for the Magpies before they get better.
Striker signings haven’t delivered
Last summer’s drawn-out Alexander Isak saga disrupted the squad and left Newcastle with few alternatives in the market when it came to finding a replacement.
Yoane Wissa arrived from Brentford only to pick up an injury straight away, while Nick Woltemade started brightly on Tyneside but has since faded out of contention.
Woltemade’s form has collapsed. He hasn’t scored in the Premier League since his two goals against Chelsea on December 20th, with his only goal since then coming in an FA Cup match against Aston Villa in February.
That explains why Eddie Howe hasn’t given him a full 90 minutes in the league since December 2nd, and why Woltemade is reportedly unhappy, with Atletico Madrid linked as a possible next move.
Ten goals and four assists in 49 games across all competitions falls well short of what the 24-year-old needs to make it at St. James’ Park.
His 77.51% pass completion rate doesn’t help either – it’s the second-lowest among Newcastle’s outfield players.
If Newcastle offload both Wissa and Woltemade this summer, it would raise serious questions about the club’s recruitment. It would also leave Eddie Howe with the problem of finding replacements, especially since the pair’s combined value has dropped significantly.
🚨⚠️ Eddie Howe on Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa not starting last game: “Like with every player not playing, they have to show their worth on the training ground…”. pic.twitter.com/widsaj3Pep
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 24, 2026
Gordon set for Bayern move
The prospect of losing two strikers is bad enough, but news that Anthony Gordon has agreed terms with Bayern Munich will hit Newcastle fans hard. The forward was the club’s top scorer in the Champions League this season.
Hat-trick hero 😍🎩@anthonygordon pic.twitter.com/y9yYFCpGQG
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) February 18, 2026
Clubs haggle over fee - Sale would be a major setback
German reports say the two clubs are now in talks over a fee. Newcastle are holding out for around £86m, while Bayern want to start closer to £60m.
Gordon’s potential exit has been linked to Financial Fair Play rules for a while. Given how important he’s been to the side, selling him would be another blow to Eddie Howe’s plan to keep Newcastle competitive in England and Europe.
🚨 Anthony Gordon has concrete chances to leave Newcastle this summer.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 1, 2026
Bayern started contacts to be informed since February, he’s part of three-men shortlist for new winger.
Premier League clubs could join the race; Liverpool not concrete so far.
🎥 https://t.co/dCvTqNtlAM pic.twitter.com/gCrMYnriyq
The 25-year-old England international has managed 17 goals and five assists in all competitions this season, which is solid for a player who’s primarily a winger rather than a striker.
That tally puts him top for goals at the club, and his 62.12% shooting accuracy ranks among the best in the squad this year.
Gordon’s output stands out - Perfect from the spot
Woltemade and William Osula have a marginally better shot conversion rate than Gordon’s 19.54%, but they’ve taken far fewer shots – 48 and 33 compared to Gordon’s 87.
Gordon has converted all nine penalties he’s taken in 2025/26, with Newcastle winning just 12 penalties in total all season.
He’s also recorded 10 fast breaks this season, putting him second at the club behind only Harvey Barnes on 12, so there’s no doubt about his attacking value to Newcastle.
Even in one-on-one duels, Gordon holds up well with a 48.43% success rate, well ahead of Woltemade’s 39.08% and Wissa’s 30.85%.
Financial pressure forces tough calls
With no European football for Newcastle in 2026/27, the club may have to sell one of its better players just to balance the books. That would leave another hole to fill before they can even address the problems with Woltemade and Wissa and try to come out of this mess in decent shape.
Newcastle are in a better position than they were under Mike Ashley, but the fresh start promised by the Saudi Investment Fund hasn’t delivered to the extent most expected.
Missing out on European football in 2026/27 will only weaken the club’s brand further, especially if other key players decide to leave in search of bigger opportunities.
It’s hard not to feel for Eddie Howe. He’s trying to steer the club through what looks like a rough spell, and he’s doing it with one hand tied behind his back.
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