Published Jun 2, 2026, 7:15 AM GMT+1

Angus is an opinion and features journalist with Football FanCast.

Having graduated from Southampton Solent University with a degree in Sports Journalism in 2022, Angus found a home at FFC after previously writing for Vavel and OurSoundMusic.

A fervent Liverpool supporter, Angus has covered a range of Premier League clubs, from Liverpool and Everton, to the Old Gold of Wolverhampton and the South Coast of Brighton & Hove Albion. Now, he regularly covers Tottenham Hotspur.

Outside of football, Angus is a voracious reader and plays the piano.

This is all rather doom and gloom, but the truth is that Eddie Howe has created something special on Tyneside, leading the Toon into the Champions League two times in recent seasons, winning the Carabao Cup and ending years of drought against Liverpool at Wembley last year.

There are memories which will last a lifetime, but Howe wants to make more, and in order to achieve that, he will need to freshen up the squad, replacing the likes of Anthony Gordon.

How Newcastle plan on replacing Anthony Gordon

It is refreshing to see Gordon leave Newcastle and join Barcelona in a deal which has been warmly received by the Toon supporters. That is a testament to this brilliant football club, but also a credit to Gordon's conduct and how he has fought tooth and nail to bring success to St. James' Park since arriving from Everton in January 2023.

A dynamic and focal winger, Gordon scored 17 goals for Newcastle this season, stepping up following Isak's departure last summer. Newcastle needed to make such a sale after their lowly Premier League finish, but it's now crucial that Gordon is effectively replaced.

According to Calcio Mercato, Newcastle are among the myriad of Premier League clubs interested in signing Rafael Leao this summer after the forward expressed his desire to leave AC Milan.

Leao, 27, is valued at €60m (£51m) and has indeed decided to explore his options this summer - it's worth noting that the Premier League is of particular interest to him.

While Newcastle have not yet made an official move for the Portuguese winger, Gordon's transfer to Barcelona has now been finalised, and the Tynesiders will want to secure a replacement before the start of the looming World Cup.

Why Leao can replace Gordon at Newcastle

Long regarded as “one of the best left wingers in the world” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Assimiliano Allegri has repurposed Leao over the past year, fashioning him into a free-scoring forward.

Leao now wants to drape the curtain on his journey in Milan, but he's given much to the Italian side, and could realise a long-term ambition to play in the Premier League by replacing Gordon in the Premier League.

Like Gordon, the Portugal international is positionally dynamic and has a hunger for goals, something that has been tuned up over the past year in Allegri's system.

He scored nine goals across only 23 starts in Serie A this season, but it's worth noting that the fleet-footed forward also created ten big chances and drew praise from the aforementioned Mattinson for his "world-class” ability to change games, flipping them on their head.

That's exactly what Howe's side need next season, a maverick, someone who can shoulder heavy burdens and lead Newcastle back into Europe, perhaps lead a title-challenging charge on the domestic front.

Gordon had a bit of that about him, and no mistake, but it would be fair to say that the England international ebbed and flowed throughout his time at the club, only scoring six times in the Premier League and going an extended period without finding the back of the net across any competition.

Leao has been far more consistent in a Milan side who have long kept him at the forefront of their attacking plans, and while he's not perfect, this is an attacker who would welcome responsibility at Newcastle, and who could be the difference-maker now that Gordon has left for pastures new.