Newcastle United considered La Liga star as Anthony Gordon alternative

Newcastle United new boy Anthony Gordon could make his debut in Saturday’s home game against West Ham United after putting the finishing touches on his £40m move to Tyneside last weekend.

The Everton winger has been a long-term target of the Magpies hierarchy and was believed to be the subject of several unsuccessful bid during the summer transfer window. However, United finally got their man when the Toffees accepted an offer of a deal potentially worth up to £45m last Friday lunchtime after the England Under-21 star submitted an official transfer request at Goodison Park.

Speaking after completing the move, Gordon told NUFC TV: "Since I heard of the interest, I was always convinced Newcastle were for me. I think the fan base and the city really suits me as a person, the way the team are playing under the gaffer at the minute really suits me, and the club just look like they're heading in the right direction. I feel like it's a really big step. I think under the gaffer, and the way the club's going, I can really excel here."

Gordon was unquestionably United’s number one choice when it came to strengthening their options in wide positions - but The Athletic have reported one current La Liga star was identified as an alternative if the move for the Everton winger had fallen through.

Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams is believed to have been monitored by Magpies recruitment staff after shining for the Basque club over the last 12 months. The 20-year-old has been in particularly impressive form duruing the current season, scoring six goals and providing five assists in 24 appearances in all competitions and was in the Bilbao side that fell to a 2-1 defeat against Newcastle in a pre-season friendly at St James Park. Williams was also named in Spain’s World Cup Finals squad and appeared in all four of their fixtures in Qatar, coming on as a substitute as they fell to a penalty shoot-out defeat against Morocco in the round of 16.

The winger will head into the final 12 months of his current contract with Bilbao this summer and is believed to have a release clause valued at around £40m in his current deal.