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Howe urges Gordon to stay focused amid Arsenal speculation
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has called on winger Anthony Gordon to block out transfer rumors after reports linked the England international with a potential move to Arsenal.
Gordon dismisses rumors as "rubbish"
Just last week, Gordon addressed the speculation, calling it "a load of rubbish" in conversations with reporters. The 23-year-old has been a key performer for Newcastle this season, contributing 14 goals in all competitions.
Howe reflects on past transfer sagas
When asked how the club could prevent a repeat of last summer's protracted transfer dispute involving Alexander Isak-who eventually joined Liverpool for a British-record £125 million-Howe admitted he had little control over media-driven speculation.
"I'm not sure there's a lot I can do about that. I've not seen the story, so it's news to me."
Eddie Howe
He emphasized that Gordon's focus should remain on the current season, particularly with major fixtures and potential international commitments on the horizon.
Transfer rumors part of modern football, says Howe
Gordon is not the only Newcastle player to face transfer links in recent months. Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento have also been mentioned in reports, but Howe suggested such speculation is now commonplace in the sport.
"It's your industry that is creating those stories. I'm slightly secluded from it. If you don't read it, you don't know who has been linked to who."
Eddie Howe
He added that while the stories may be distracting, Newcastle's players are resilient enough to ignore them and maintain their performance levels.
How players respond is what matters
Howe stressed that the impact of transfer rumors depends on how players react. If they allow speculation to affect their focus, it becomes a problem-but he believes Newcastle's squad is strong enough to stay unaffected.
"It's irrelevant really. It's how the players react to that. If they absorb it and it affects them, then that's a negative. But I think our players are robust enough to ignore it."
Eddie Howe
