There was a hidden Paul Mitchell message in Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon contract announcement.
Paul Mitchell is delighted to see Anthony Gordon sign a new contract with Newcastle United.
The 23-year-old has committed his long-term future to the Magpies, with Gordon signing a deal until 2029 that includes no release clause.
Newcastle United have tied down one of their most important players, with Anthony Gordon committing his best years to the club. He wants to be part of what should be a bright future at St James’ Park, and it will be exciting to see what Gordon can achieve at Newcastle.
It is great news for Paul Mitchell, as it means that the Newcastle sporting director does not need to worry about recruiting another top level left winger. That position is sorted, with the Magpies’ long-term investment paying off.
Newcastle invested in Gordon’s potential in 2023, and they have helped him become one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League. His value has at least doubled, which is what Mitchell wants from the young players that Newcastle bring in.
READ MORE: Who is Anthony Gordon? Age, height, career, position, girlfriend
Newcastle board members (L-R) Newcastle United Performance Director James Bunce, Newcastle United Sporting Director Paul Mitchell, Newcastle United…
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images.
What Paul Mitchell has said about Anthony Gordon’s contract extension
The Toon sporting director is currently in the midst of changing Newcastle’s recruitment strategy.
Mitchell wants Newcastle to buy young players who can develop, with the view to either becoming first-team stars or being sold off for profit to help PSR.
During the announcement of Gordon’s new contract on the club’s official website, Mitchell sent a clear message about the direction he wants Newcastle to go in.
“Anthony is a top player with so much still ahead of him,” he said..
“We are all delighted that he is committed to the journey we’re on at Newcastle United.
“Our staff have done a tremendous job in nurturing his talent and evolving his game, and Anthony deserves so much credit for his commitment to pushing himself to be better and to achieve every day.
“Developing, rewarding and retaining our talented young players is an essential part of building towards sustainable success, and Anthony has a big part to play as we strive to reach our ambitious targets.”
How Mitchell is trying to revolutionise Newcastle United
Mitchell wants Newcastle to be ‘sustainable’, after criticising the club’s previous approach to recruitment.
The 43-year-old is changing the way that things are done at St James’ Park, and wants Newcastle to develop more players from a younger age.
They have done that to some extent with Gordon, even if he was already established in the Premier League when he arrived from Everton for £40million.
Mitchell wants players to come through the academy, which is why the development of the likes of Trevan Sanusi and Alfie Harrison is pivotal. For example, it was great to see Anthony Munda recently train with the Newcastle first-team.
There is also a desire to sign players from untapped markets before they truly hit their stride. That is the only way that the Magpies can get value and steal a march on their rivals. One example of that is Newcastle signing Vakhtang Salia from Dinamo Tbilisi. He is a 17-year-old attacker from Georgia who has been likened to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Newcastle are looking to improve players. That will save them money in the transfer market, while it will also allow them to become better sellers.
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They have done that with Gordon. He is a much better player than he was when he joined, and is now at a level that Newcastle wanted to get him to. He was not a Champions League player when he arrived, but he is now. To sign a player who was already at that level would have cost a club record fee.
Mitchell is obviously delighted to keep Gordon, as he is an exceptional player but he can also be used as an example to prove why this type of recruitment is essential.
