Quansah, Isak, Gordon and Gomez: What we know about Liverpool and Newcastle transfer links

When Newcastle United and Liverpool held talks in June last year about the possible transfer of Anthony Gordon from St James’ Park to Anfield, it precipitated discussions about a variety of potential deals between the two clubs.

Newcastle feared they might need to sell England winger Gordon to comply with profit and sustainability regulations (PSR), but if they were going to have to let him go, then they were interested in taking centre-back Jarell Quansah from Liverpool in return.

When it was clear that would not happen, Quansah’s team-mate and fellow defender Joe Gomez was another option discussed.

This year, it is Newcastle’s star striker Alexander Isak who is admired by the hierarchy at Anfield, with the Premier League leaders searching for a reliable No 9, while Quansah has again been linked with a switch to Tyneside.

So what is the state of play with all four of those players, and could any of these deals happen? The Athletic’s Liverpool reporters Gregg Evans and James Pearce join their Newcastle colleague Chris Waugh to explain what we know.

Is Quansah available, and do Newcastle want him?

Pearce: The short answer to whether he is available is no. Liverpool are planning for next season with Quansah on board. The defender was the subject of strong interest from Newcastle last summer and their admiration for him remains. However, Liverpool are not considering the sale of the 22-year-old academy graduate, who remains a big part of head coach Arne Slot’s plans.

Quansah has not been a regular starter this season but has still made 22 appearances in all competitions so far. His development was rewarded with a new contract in October, which ties him to Anfield until 2029. He was recently called up by Thomas Tuchel for England’s World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, though he did not play in either game.

Speculation about a potential £30million ($39m) deal is certainly wide of the mark. When Newcastle had an approach to sign Quansah rebuffed last June, they already valued him at around £50m. Since then, he has gained more first-team experience, signed that new contract and broken into the senior England squad, ahead of players such as Everton’s £60m-rated defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

Liverpool have not received any fresh approaches for Quansah and certainly will not be encouraging any. With Virgil van Dijk yet to commit to a new contract as his current one enters its final three months, Ibrahima Konate approaching the last year of his deal and Gomez recovering from a serious injury, there is already enough uncertainty regarding their centre-back situation.

Waugh: Some figures at Newcastle admire Quansah and the recruitment department have tracked his development closely.

Last summer, when Newcastle were in discussions about a potential deal to sell Gordon to Liverpool, the first player they proposed in exchange — when a transfer fee would have been paid — was Quansah.

As a 22-year-old and a centre-half who can cover right-back, Quansah fits the age and positional profile Newcastle are looking to strengthen with this summer. Right centre-back is the key position, alongside right-sided forward, which Newcastle need to bolster, given they have not done so since the takeover in October 2021.

But Newcastle are not at the stage yet where they have finalised top targets and Paul Mitchell has arrived as their sporting director since that potential Quansah-Gordon deal was proposed (and rejected by Liverpool). Quansah is expected to feature on a long list heading into the summer, given Newcastle have enquired about him previously and have watched his progress, but that does not mean they will make a move for him.

Multiple centre-backs, domestically and across Europe, are also being monitored, including Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, who Newcastle pursued last summer.

Gomez has been linked with Newcastle before. Is he still an option?

Evans: Liverpool’s longest-serving player — he was signed in June 2015, when Brendan Rodgers was the manager — came close to leaving last summer, when a fee was agreed as part of a move that would have seen Gordon going the other way, but Newcastle pulled the plug on those deals.

A hamstring injury that’s kept him out since December has since added to the uncertainty around his future, but with two years remaining on his contract, there is no rush to make a decision yet. When fit, Gomez is an important squad player who can cover several positions across the back line, as he has shown again this season.

Waugh: As last June showed, nothing can be categorically ruled out — but, as things stand, it would be a surprise if Newcastle went back in for Gomez. For a start, it was Quansah they actually wanted in exchange last year if they were going to be forced to sell Gordon. Their primary motivation for entering tentative talks over Gomez was desperation, due to their need to comply with the Premier League’s PSR by June 30.

While hardly old, Gomez, who is 28 in May, does not fit the age profile from which Newcastle would ideally like to recruit. Mitchell is aiming to lower the average age of the squad, with players under 25 expected to form the bulk of the club’s next recruitment drive.

Gomez’s Premier League experience and his ability to play centre-half or full-back may yet appeal to Eddie Howe, but Newcastle are likely to focus resources elsewhere.

Could Gordon to Liverpool be revived this summer?

Evans: That now looks unlikely, as Newcastle are back in the hunt for Champions League football and their financial position is improving, so the need to raise funds through player sales has dropped considerably. Gordon also signed a new contract in October and is enjoying playing regularly for a team who are on the up. Liverpool, meanwhile, appear to have found their answer at left-winger in Cody Gakpo, who was in fine form before an injury last month and is enjoying his first season under new head coach Slot.

Gordon, who was released by the Anfield club at age 11 and is from a family of Liverpool supporters, may be reconsidered if Luis Diaz is sold at some stage in the future. Diaz, 28, has two years left on his contract and Liverpool need to decide whether to offer an extension or consider moving him on.

Gordon was suspended as Newcastle beat Liverpool in this month’s Carabao Cup final (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Waugh: As unsettled as Gordon was last summer when his proposed move to Liverpool collapsed almost as quickly as it came about, Newcastle tied the winger down to a five-year contract extension in October, making the 24-year-old one of their highest earners.

While Gordon has not fully replicated his magnificent 2023-24 form — 11 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League — this season, he has been directly involved in 11 top-flight goals and is integral to Newcastle’s attacking game plan. Although Harvey Barnes is a ready-made in-house replacement, Gordon has established himself as the first-choice left-winger.

Newcastle are not facing the same PSR pressures they were last year, either, and at that point, selling Gordon was described as the “nuclear option”. It was not something they wanted to do, but felt they had to at least consider it, given their predicament.

Regardless, in a PSR landscape, selling a star player for a significant profit at some stage down the line cannot be ruled out, but it would require a huge offer to tempt Newcastle to do so this summer.

Liverpool need a No 9 — could Isak be the answer?

Evans: Absolutely, although he would command a record-breaking fee, so the figures may be a problem. There is no doubt Isak is good enough to shine at Liverpool and take their team to a new level. The three games between the two clubs this season alone showed that, as he scored in the two that he started and left a huge void in the one he missed because of a groin problem.

The 25-year-old Swede has lost chunks of each of his past four seasons with Newcastle and previous club Real Sociedad due to injuries, so that will be a factor as Liverpool already have a striker who cannot seem to keep himself fit in Diogo Jota.

Liverpool spending such a huge amount on a forward like Isak would also depend on the sale of their current record-signing, his fellow striker Darwin Nunez.

Waugh: Newcastle are adamant that will not be the case, with the message from multiple senior figures being that Isak is not for sale. Even during their rush to satisfy PSR last summer — despite tentative enquiries from Chelsea — Newcastle never considered parting with the Swede.

Darren Eales, the chief executive, struck a bullish tone on Isak earlier this month, insisting it “would be crazy” to consider selling their best players. Privately, that stance has been echoed by several senior figures at St James’ Park, who agree with Howe’s assessment that Isak is irreplaceable.

The club insist they are in a strong position to rebuff interest, too. Isak still has three years remaining on his contract, and while talks about a new deal have been on hold, Newcastle intend to restart them during the off-season. They do not need to sell, nor do they want to, and the belief is it would take a bid well in excess of £100million for Isak to even begin to soften their position.

Isak may have a say in this himself, of course, but the hope is that Newcastle winning the Carabao Cup this season helps demonstrate progress to the player. Should Newcastle go on to secure Champions League qualification for 2025-26, their prospects of keeping hold of Isak will only grow.

What is the club’s financial situation heading into the summer?

Evans: That still depends largely on the futures of Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, as extensions for those three key players would be costly. Liverpool have offered them all new deals to replace the ones expiring this summer but none of them have been accepted and Real Madrid now hope to wrap up a free-agent move for Alexander-Arnold after a lengthy pursuit.

Liverpool’s owners at Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are expected to set aside money to replace any outgoing players and strengthen the squad ahead of Slot’s second season in charge.

Although Liverpool recently announced a £57.1million pre-tax loss for 2023-24 — the worst financial result in the club’s history — they are still in a healthy position because of the considered management in previous years. This season’s return to the Champions League will help in the next set of accounts, as will the record-breaking returns from commercial revenue.

It is not as straightforward as spending money and stockpiling players, though, as Liverpool still need to consider moving fringe players on, or selling some of their youngsters, to allow more flexibility around incomings.

Waugh: Newcastle’s is significantly healthier than 12 months ago. PSR remains a constraint, but the winter-window exits of Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly have ensured Mitchell should have a decent kitty with which to operate during what’s going to be a very important window.

Specific budgets have not yet been set, although Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Newcastle’s chairman, was briefed last month about the wider transfer blueprint heading into the summer.

UEFA Conference League football next season is already guaranteed as a minimum having won the Carabao Cup, but sixth-placed Newcastle can still qualify for the Champions League or second-tier Europa League, which would increase their capacity to spend.

Newcastle — who have not acquired a player who materially strengthens their first XI since summer 2023 — are expected to prioritise signing a right-sided centre-back, a right-sided forward, a striker and a goalkeeper.

(Top photos: Getty Images)