'Surprised he's gone to Newcastle' - Onuoha discusses Gordon's imminent, acrimonious exit from Everton 

Nigerian-born former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha has admitted that he's surprised by the decision of England U21 international Anthony Gordon to swap Everton for Newcastle United. 

Gordon is reportedly heading to the Magpies after the Toffees accepted a bid in the region of 40 million pounds. 

The winger's imminent move to St. James' Park was acrimonious in the sense that he refused to turn up for training in order to force a transfer. 

Everton, who are fighting for their lives in the Premier League, have been forced to get rid of potentially their best player, a Scouser who was nurtured by the club. 

Asked if Gordon is any good, Onuoha, who is now a pundit, said on ESPN : "Of course he is good, he's someone who has potential.

"We've seen over the last couple of seasons where he's shown real glimpses in terms of attacking threat, his ability to create opportunities.

"He was once the guy that gets the fans off their seats at Goodison Park. Obviously things over the last few months haven't been necessarily that way and I think the way he's leaving in terms of not arriving to training isn't going to be great at all, it's not very endearing."

Following the takeover by a Saudi Arabia-led consortium, Newcastle United have not really gone for the big superstars as their strategy is signing players that would fit in with what they are building. 

Onuoha continued : "For Newcastle they see a player who won't just be there for a year or two years. He's someone who could be a long term project.

"I'm surprised he's gone to Newcastle because they are in the top four now. I guess they are playing a long game with him

"He does show a lot of potential and it seems now is the time to get him away from Everton."

Of the eight goals scored by Super Eagles star Alex Iwobi in an Everton shirt, one of them was assisted by Gordon, against Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup on September 23, 2020.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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