Newcastle United could reportedly make a move for Everton youngster Anthony Gordon in January, having been heavily linked with the forward in recent months.

What's the word?

According to the Chronicle, the Magpies could well 'consider' making another swoop for the 21-year-old in the winter window, following reports over the summer that suggested the North East side were interested in the Englishman.

Although Toffees boss Frank Lampard has insisted that the highly rated prospect "never got close" to leaving Goodison Park, there were undoubtedly a number of clubs interested in his services, with Manchester United believed to have made a late enquiry regarding his availability.

Fellow Premier League side Chelsea also appeared intent on landing the Liverpool-born menace, with the Blues said to have been prepared to pay as much as £60m for his signature.

Harrison alternative

Although that may appear a sizeable fee for a player who has made just 55 top-flight appearances in his career thus far, on recent evidence such a price tag is somewhat justified, with Gordon having sparkled in the early weeks of the new season.

The £10k-per-week hotshot has already chipped in with two goals in the opening six league games of the campaign thus far, having previously proven a real shining light in an otherwise dour season last time out for the Merseyside outfit.

Tipped to blossom into a "superstar" by talkSPORT pundit Danny Murphy, the England U21 international could well represent a real long-term investment for those at St James' Park, with such a youthful asset the type of player whom manager Eddie Howe could build his side around.

Any doubts over his lack of experience should also be quashed by his likeness to another reported Newcastle target, Jack Harrison, with the pair believed to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, as per FBref.

The Magpies were believed to have had a number of bids rejected for the Leeds United man in the recent window, with the Elland Road outfit adamant that he would not be sold for anything less than £40m.

Facing the prospect of having to fork out such a hefty fee on the 25-year-old, it may well make sense to pay just slightly more to land the younger Gordon, with the Everton man possibly set to prove better value for money due to his age.

As previously noted, they are no doubt similar assets due to their hard-working approach in attack, albeit with the Toffees gem coming out on top with regards to tackles and pressures made per 90, ranking in the top 3% and the top 7% for those two metrics, respectively, while Harrison ranks in just the top 16% for tackles and the top 19% for pressures - in comparison to those in their position across Europe's top five leagues over the last 365 days.

Howe would no doubt love the chance to work with such a relentless, all-action asset like Gordon who appears to have an incredibly high ceiling, with it seemingly worth the gamble to splash the cash in the near future - be it in January or next summer.