Claims of Newcastle United star leaving has just gone to another level

Earlier this month, I wrote a couple of articles for The Mag about a Newcastle United star who was supposedly on the verge of leaving the club. At the time, the player in question was Alexander Isak, who had become the subject of relentless media speculation.

Various websites, particularly those linked to PSG and Barcelona, were churning out baseless claims about the Swedish striker’s potential departure from St. James’ Park. As expected, these stories were devoid of any credible sources or factual evidence, relying instead on sensationalism to generate clicks.

Now, the focus has shifted to another Newcastle United star, giving Alexander Isak a well-deserved break from the rumor mill.

While I primarily rely on The Mag for my Newcastle United updates, I occasionally glance at what other outlets are saying about the club. Like many fans, I sometimes use aggregator sites—platforms that compile headlines from various media sources based on your interests, such as “Newcastle United.”

These sites allow you to click on a headline and read the corresponding article, but they often serve as a breeding ground for misleading and exaggerated stories.

Recently, while browsing one of these aggregator sites, I came across a headline that immediately caught my attention: “Newcastle all but CONFIRM Anthony Gordon is leaving.” Given my familiarity with the sensationalist nature of such headlines, I usually avoid clicking on them.

However, this particular story piqued my curiosity. Had I missed a significant development? Was this one of those rare instances where a headline actually reflected a legitimate story? Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.

The article in question was published by Anfield Watch, a Liverpool-focused website. The headline screamed certainty, but the content told a very different story. According to the article, Newcastle United’s supposed interest in Assane Diao, a 19-year-old Serie A forward, was being interpreted as a sign that Anthony Gordon’s departure was all but confirmed.

The logic, if you can call it that, was that Newcastle would need to sell Gordon to fund the acquisition of Diao. The article even admitted, in its closing lines, that “Newcastle’s pursuit of Diao isn’t official confirmation that Gordon will move on, but it could be a very [sic] good indicator.”

Let’s break this down. The headline boldly claimed that Newcastle had “all but confirmed” Gordon’s exit, yet the article itself conceded that no such confirmation existed. Instead, it relied on speculative reporting from Football Insider, a site notorious for churning out transfer rumors with little to no substantiation.

The idea that Newcastle’s interest in a young Serie A prospect somehow equates to Gordon’s imminent departure is not only illogical but also a blatant attempt to mislead readers.

What makes this even more frustrating is the sheer audacity of the headline. It’s designed to grab attention and generate clicks, regardless of its accuracy. The article’s admission that its central claim is unsubstantiated only adds to the absurdity. It’s a classic case of sensationalism over substance, and it’s a tactic that far too many websites employ to drive traffic.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Football Insider and similar outlets have built their reputations on publishing countless transfer stories, most of which never come to fruition.

Their success rate is abysmally low, yet they continue to churn out speculative content because it generates engagement. The Anfield Watch article is just the latest example of this trend, using a misleading headline to lure readers into a story that ultimately offers no real insight or evidence.

As a Newcastle United fan, I find this kind of reporting both frustrating and embarrassing. It’s frustrating because it preys on the passion and curiosity of supporters, and it’s embarrassing because it reflects poorly on the state of sports journalism.

The desperation to attract clicks has led to a culture of exaggeration and fabrication, where headlines are crafted to mislead rather than inform.

In the case of Anthony Gordon, there is no indication from Newcastle United that he is leaving the club. The idea that his departure is somehow confirmed by the club’s interest in Assane Diao is nothing more than a fabrication.

Gordon has been a key player for Newcastle this season, and there’s no reason to believe that the club is looking to offload him. If anything, the focus should be on building around players like Gordon, not replacing them based on unfounded rumors.

Ultimately, stories like this serve as a reminder to approach transfer rumors with a healthy dose of skepticism. While it’s natural to be curious about potential signings and departures, it’s important to distinguish between credible reporting and clickbait.

As fans, we deserve better than to be misled by sensationalist headlines and baseless speculation. Until then, I’ll continue to rely on trusted sources like The Mag for my Newcastle United news, and I’ll take anything from aggregator sites with a grain of salt.