Newcastle have found their perfect replacement for Anthony Gordon, but he’s going to be expensive.
Newcastle United are now in the mix to sign one of Europe’s most wanted wingers as they prepare to replace Anthony Gordon.
Gordon is set to join Barcelona on Friday, with Newcastle expected to get around £70 million for the England star, who will reportedly double his salary to £300,000 a week.
Replacing the important 25-year-old won’t be easy, but Newcastle’s team has spotted a player who’s been turning heads after a great season with Real Betis.
Abde Ezzalzouli, who will play for Morocco in this summer’s World Cup, scored 15 goals and made 13 assists in 43 games under Betis’ coach Manuel Pellegrini this season.
Betis earned a spot in next season’s Champions League, thanks in part to the talented Ezzalzouli, but it looks like they might lose their star winger since several clubs are interested.
According to TeamTALK, Chelsea’s owners BlueCo and Manchester City’s City Football Group are both keen. Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig have also been watching him all season. Newcastle, however, seem to have a good chance because they have liked him for a long time.
The player is said to be interested in Newcastle’s long-term plans and the chance to play in the Premier League.
Ezzalzouli’s release clause is around £52 million, but Betis might be open to offers, according to reports. It’s also worth mentioning that Barcelona has a 20% sell-on clause since Ezzalzouli joined Betis from them in 2023.
The 24-year-old mainly plays on the left wing but can also play on the right. Besides being skilled at beating defenders one-on-one, he’s worked hard on his overall game, shown clearly by his strong performance this past season.
Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini recently talked about how much Ezzalzouli has improved.
“He has grown a lot because he listens carefully and doesn’t just stick to his own ideas. I’m very happy for him,” he said after a win over Real Mallorca.
“He has great potential and is very open to advice and criticism to improve on the pitch.”