Liverpool Lead Chase for £95m Newcastle Star as Salah Exit Looms Large

Liverpool have moved to the front of the queue in the race to sign Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon, with reports suggesting the Reds are leading Arsenal and Manchester City in pursuit of the £95m-rated winger.

Gordon, who came through Everton's academy before joining Newcastle, has long harboured ambitions of playing for the Anfield faithful—a factor that appears to be working in Liverpool's favour. The 24-year-old came agonisingly close to completing a switch to Merseyside during last summer's transfer window, only for the deal to collapse at the final hurdle.

His form at St James' Park has hardly set the world alight this season, with just three goals from 20 Premier League outings leaving plenty to be desired. Yet the big clubs continue to circle, and Liverpool's established interest and Gordon's boyhood allegiances appear to be the primary drivers behind their frontrunner status.

Sources close to the situation suggest Liverpool's appeal extends beyond mere tactical fit. "He grew up there, and his family are Liverpool fans despite him previously being at Everton," one insider explained. Another added weight to the Reds' position, noting: "Liverpool's interest is strong, they've admired him for some time and there may already have been some informal contacts to assess the possibility of a move."

The Newcastle obstacle remains formidable, however. The Magpies have form when it comes to driving hard bargains with Liverpool—witness their handling of the Alexander Isak situation—and sources indicate they would demand a fee at the lower end of £85m, with £95m potentially required to secure a departure.

Elsewhere, the Gordon pursuit appears intrinsically linked to uncertainty surrounding Mohamed Salah's future. The Egyptian forward has endured a dramatic downturn in form this campaign after claiming Player of the Year honours last season, and reported friction with manager Arne Slot has only intensified speculation about his departure.

Saudi Pro League clubs Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr have both registered interest in the 32-year-old, with the former seemingly leading the chase. The Saudi competition is eager to conclude any deal early in the summer window.

Publicly, Liverpool maintain an unwavering stance on Salah's future. Behind closed doors, however, the picture appears rather different. The club are reportedly bracing themselves for his exit and have already begun scouting potential replacements for the former Chelsea and Roma man, with Gordon seemingly high on their shortlist.

Whether that scenario comes to pass remains to be seen, but with the summer transfer window looming and questions hanging over both Salah and Gordon's futures, expect this saga to dominate the headlines in the coming months.