The Premier League has not seen an arms race quite like it before in January. From Mykhailo Mudryk and Cody Gakpo to Leandro Trossard and Arnaut Danjuma, a host of top clubs have strengthened their attack - and Newcastle United are no different.
Following Chris Wood's unexpected departure to Nottingham Forest earlier this month, Eddie Howe wanted to bring in a replacement for a player who, at the very least, was reliable and stayed fit. Howe made it clear that he was not just searching for 'another Wood' but, equally, the Newcastle boss needed a forward who was 'ready to play' right away like the New Zealand international was. Howe believes he has found that man in Anthony Gordon.
Before you even address Gordon's potential, the 21-year-old has already played 65 Premier League games for Everton and is used to the pace and physicality of the top-flight unlike a similarly aged player on the continent. That was an obvious advantage to this £40m deal in a month where Newcastle could have gone foreign.
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That is not to say signing a player from the continent, like Mudryk, would have been any cheaper, either. Although it was Chelsea and Arsenal who ultimately went head to head for Mudryk, ChronicleLive understands the Ukraine star's camp were aware Newcastle at least liked the player as recently as October. However, tellingly, there were no formal or informal talks between Newcastle and Shakhtar - not least because of the game-changer's eye-watering £88m price tag.
At the other end of the scale, when it came to short-term additions, ChronicleLive understands Newcastle were not even 'in the conversation' for Danjuma when the Netherlands international left Villarreal. Indeed, it was rather telling that the Magpies did not alter their stance when Danjuma decided against joining Everton on loan at the 11th hour before Spurs pounced last week.
That should not come as a surprise. Howe and his staff may have worked with Danjuma before, at Bournemouth, but the Newcastle boss has long made a vow that he does not want to change tact and sign anyone who is not already a longstanding target. This is the way Newcastle now operate.
Newcastle have a small pool of targets and the Magpies would sooner try again in the next window then panic and immediately bring in another signing who might not necessarily be the right player for them at that time. It is why Newcastle resurrected moves for Sven Botman and Harrison Ashby, for example, and attempted to sign Hugo Ekitike once more last summer.
It is also another reason why Newcastle returned to the table for Gordon this month. As Gordon put it to Howe in their opening meeting on Saturday: "This has been years in the making."
Howe and assistant Jason Tindall had tracked Gordon since his early days at Everton - even keeping an eye on the forward during a loan spell at Preston North End in 2021 - and the pair felt the youngster had all the raw attributes to fit their style of play with his pace, versatility and work rate. Off the field, too, Newcastle did their homework, and that research will reassure supporters who were concerned after Gordon did not turn up to training at Everton in a bid to force the move.
As well as discreetly speaking to those who have worked with targets, himself, Howe has previously enlisted the help of recruitment consultants over the years in a bid to find out everything about a potential signing - from his family set-up to his motivations. Newcastle, as a result, will already be aware that Gordon is teetotal and the 21-year-old is often spotted on days off simply walking his dog with his partner, Annie. They will also know Gordon is an ambitious individual who wants to improve, win trophies and one day represent his country at senior level.
Howe pointed to Gordon's 'nice balance between confidence and knowing there are areas to improve in his game', and the youngster is desperate to get his career back on track after his form tailed off in a struggling Everton side. It certainly did not go unnoticed that Gordon was back at his hotel before 7.30pm on Saturday ahead of his first day's training the next day and the new arrival duly impressed his team-mates.
Howe will hope it was a sign of things to come.
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