Published Jul 23, 2026, 7:15 AM GMT+1

Angus is an experienced football writer who has been in the industry since graduating from Southampton Solent University in 2022.

Having previously scribbled down thoughts on the indie rock scene for OurSoundMusic, and led VAVEL’s Brighton & Hove Albion department, Angus has settled in an analytical reporting role with Football FanCast, where he has produced thousands of articles.

After graduating from the academy of Snack Media (now Valnet), Angus is one of FFC’s longest-serving writers, having since joined the opinions and features team.

The lion’s share of his expertise has centred on Liverpool, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur, though an ever-changing football landscape has seen him cover any number of Premier League teams over the years.

Having finished 12th in the Premier League last year, the Magpies have fallen off a proverbial cliff after a number of impressive years in Howe's system. Their endless misery in the transfer market has not helped things, and may even have been the root cause of his issues that sprouted up last year following the much-maligned Alexander Isak's sale to Liverpool.

A year on, Anthony Gordon has left too. The cirumstances differ, but while fans sit on both sides of the fence regarding the sale of Barcelona's new left winger, he still needs replacing before the end of the summer. That, all Toon fans can agree on.

Why Anthony Gordon was so important for Newcastle

Gordon left Newcastle amicably. His sale handed the Toon a £69m payment, and while he had been a focal point for Howe, he had only scored six goals across each of his past two Premier League seasons, ebbing and flowing throughout.

But Gordon's directness and energy on the ball will be difficult to replace. Newcastle have attempted to do so by signing Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim for £43m, but the Ivorian is only 20 years old, raw and unrefined.

Moreover, the Three Lions star's emphatic effort during the Magpies' recent Champions League campaign offers further evidence of his rare and deeply-woven qualities as a talisman. He scored ten times across 12 Champions League games.

The 25-year-old no longer plays for the Toon, and his fearless and intense style needs replacing by someone who can challenge Toure and prove an instant hit.

Howe and co may have found just the man.

Newcastle in talks to sign their new Gordon

Gordon was never the most clinical winger in the Premier League (though he was Newcastle's top scorer in all competitions last year with 17 goals), but he has always been an invariably dangerous threat.

And in Jonathan Rowe, Newcastle could find their new version. According to TEAMtalk, the Tynesiders are among a host of clubs to have registered their interest in the Bologna winger, who, aged 23, is starting to show signs of elite potential.

Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester United and most recently Everton are among Newcastle's rivals also taking an interest, and they have been told that it will cost something to the tune of £35m to sign Rowe.

Rowe is guilty of the treasonous crime of not playing in England, thus ceding plenty of publicity in his homeland, but he has honed his skillset in France and now Italy.

Like Gordon, Rowe ebbs and flows in front of goal, but he has the potential to become a prolific winger, comfortable across both flanks, and he has been praised for his "striker-like instincts" by analyst Ben Mattinson too, sharing that with Gordon.

In fact, the two wingers actually match up pretty well.

It's clear that Rowe could fill a hole left by Gordon when he jetted off to Spain, especially when you realise that he is not the finished article, and that Gordon wasn't either.

The Serie A star is still learning the craft, but Newcastle would have options aplenty out wide, were they to win this race. His pace and power and physicality make him the perfect fit for what Howe is trying to rebuild at St. James' Park.

With so much rival interest, though, fans are certainly not going to be holding their breath.