'Anthony Gordon was my last signing at Everton - and I might know why Liverpool passed on him then'

This isn't the first time that Liverpool has considered a move for boyhood Reds fan Anthony Gordon . This weekend, it emerged that Newcastle had attempted to free up some PSR wriggle room by sending the 23-year-old to Anfield in exchange for Jarell Quansah .

In order to avoid a possible points deduction or significant financial penalties related to its accounting, Eddie Howe's squad is under pressure to make some sales before the looming deadline. But there was no chance of Liverpool ever considering sacrificing Quansah as part of any deal.

Despite the failed negotiations, Gordon would be an excellent signing for Liverpool if such a move remained possible in a different capacity. However, Newcastle now look likely to keep hold of the likes of Gordon and Alexander Isak , with Yankuba Minteh's move to Brighton freeing up PSR room and meaning another big sale may not be needed.

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Born and bred in Merseyside, Gordon's local connections possibly make him a good fit for the Reds. And he hasn't been shy about his admiration for Steven Gerrard , the Liverpool legend, despite his Everton past.

The growth of Gordon into the player we see today can be attributed to his time at Everton, where two specific coaches played key roles. Former England Under-18s manager and ex-Everton academy coach, Neil Dewsnip, had quite the close working relationship with the young talent.

Appraising his evolution, Dewsnip made remarks to BBC Sport about how Liverpool and Everton both did the rounds with Gordon before he signed up. He admitted: "Anthony was my last signing at Everton. He was a boy we looked at a few times, as did Liverpool. He was a little bit of a late developer, physically immature."

An additional former coach from the Everton youth set-up also spoke about Gordon's journey, under the agreement of staying unidentified, stating: "We could see he had potential. The academy did well to stick with him. It was about being patient and keeping him in the system."

"In the past, players like Anthony might have been left behind," they continued. "But as he got stronger he came into his own. He was always very single-minded even back then. He knew what he wanted and what he needed. We always thought he'd be a big lad, which he is.

"We knew he'd be quick, and he's rapid. It's about looking at the boy and trying to see the man down the road. It is all credit to Anthony — he's developed himself."

"He's done exceedingly well," Dewsnip said, praising Gordon's progress. "His ability to run with the ball was always clear. He could get you from your penalty area when defending to the opponents' area incredibly quickly. He is also really talented in one-on-one situations. The next three or four years could be very exciting for Anthony.

"He's got talent people are desperate for: he can score goals and create goals. When you get older and more mature physically, you're able to do those things more often. Maybe that's what we are starting to see."

Liverpool.com says: Gordon would be an absolutely ideal signing for Liverpool at the right price. But if Newcastle is desperate to keep hold of him, it could ask for silly money. In that case, the Reds aren't likely to persist with a move even if the player is one that would improve Arne Slot's starting XI.