THANK GORD

Howe relief at keeping hold of star Anthony

- SIMON BIRD

ANTHONY GORDON will be "welcomed back with three arms" by Eddie Howe after having his head turned by Liverpool.

The Anfield giants are interested in pinching the £60m-rated England winger from Newcastle this summer.

A deal was briefly explored at the end of June as the Geordies scrambled to raise £65m of cash to avoid falling foul of Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules and receiving a points deduction next season.

Toon boss Howe has warned the emergency sell off situation must "never happen again" and says the rules "forced Newcastle to do things we didn't want to do".

Gordon was one of several big names Newcastle feared losing, as well as Alexander Isak, as panic ensued in the boardroom with just 48 hours to plug their financial hole.

But they avoided losing any of their blue-chip stars by selling youngsters Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh for more than £60m.