An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their hunt to improve their options at the top end of the pitch in the January transfer window...

What's the talk?

According to The Telegraph, the Magpies are confident of beating Premier League rivals Chelsea to the signing of Everton forward Anthony Gordon.

The report claims that progress has been made on a potential deal to sign the England under-21 international and that the club are hoping that the Toffees can come to a compromise on their £60m valuation.

Journalist Ben Jacobs backed this up by Tweeting:

"Newcastle growing in confidence they can agree a deal this week with Everton for Anthony Gordon, as first reported by @LukeEdwardsTele #NUFC tried for Gordon last summer. Player keen on the move, but fee still an issue even though it's nowhere near figures quoted back in August."

Craig Bellamy 2.0

Magpies reporter Luke Edwards recently Tweeted that he is getting "strong Craig Bellamy vibes" from the "raw" Gordon and the club could land their next version of the retired winger by bringing the Everton gem to St. James' Park.

FFC previously published an article explaining why the move could go wrong for Newcastle, given the gem's dip in form this season, but Eddie Howe and Dan Ashworth must want the youngster for a reason and there is, of course, the possibility that the winger can fulfill his potential on Tyneside.

Gordon has been directly involved in three goals in 16 Premier League appearances this term, after providing six goal contributions in the division in 2021/22, but his form at youth level before he made the breakthrough at Goodison Park was particularly impressive.

The winger scored 16 goals and produced five assists in 32 under-18 appearances for the Toffees, whilst also being involved in 13 goals in 28 under-21 games.

At the age of 21, Gordon still has plenty of time left on his hands to develop and grow and this means that Howe could use his coaching ability to drastically improve the forward's output in the final third.

If the gem can become more consistent with his end product at the top end of the pitch then he could be the next Bellamy to grace St. James' Park, as a fleet-footed left winger cutting inside onto his right foot.

Bellamy produced 43 goals and 23 assists in 128 matches for the Magpies in all competitions during his time on Tyneside and these are the standards that Gordon would have to live up to in order to be the next version of the Welsh wizard, which his youth record for Everton suggests he has the potential to do.