Newcastle boss dismisses suggestions of media campaigns to unsettle his squad amid ongoing speculation over Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali.

Eddie Howe has hit out at claims that media speculation is being used to unsettle his players after reports linked both Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali with potential moves to Arsenal .

Gordon and Tonali have been mentioned in transfer discussions in recent weeks as Arsenal consider squad reinforcements ahead of the summer window. Gordon, in particular, has long been admired by the Gunners, while rumours of a late deadline-day interest in Tonali previously surfaced.

Howe, speaking ahead of Newcastle’s Premier League fixture against Everton, rejected the idea that external stories were part of a deliberate attempt to destabilise his key stars.

“You tell me, it’s your industry that creates these stories,” Howe said. “I’m slightly secluded from it because I don’t read it. Is it not part of modern football? It [what’s written] is irrelevant really.

“It’s how the players take to it. If they absorb it then it’s a negative, but I think they become robust enough to ignore it and concentrate on their football.

“We are mid-season, we are in the middle of some of the biggest games of Ant’s career and who knows what’s going to happen with him internationally in the summer, so he has no time to look left or right.

“These things only come into focus when windows are open – it’s the only time players should be thinking about their futures, if at all. Because in the meantime everything they do affects their future. I’d just encourage them to play at their best level. And I’ve been very impressed with Anthony recently.”

Gordon, an England international forward, signed a long-term contract extension at St James’ Park in 2024 that runs until 2029. Despite that commitment, speculation about his future has persisted, with Liverpool previously reported to be interested before Newcastle secured his signature.

Tonali, meanwhile, remains under contract until 2029 with an option for a further year. The Italian midfielder arrived in England with high expectations but has faced challenges adapting and maintaining consistent form. Clubs in Italy, including Juventus and AC Milan, have also been linked with potential interest in the 25-year-old.

Newcastle’s stance remains firm. The club has invested heavily in recent seasons and is determined to retain its core squad as it pursues both domestic and European ambitions. The Magpies currently compete in the Premier League, the FA Cup and the latter stages of European competition, highlighting their growing status among England’s elite.

For Arsenal, transfer speculation is nothing new. The club has repeatedly strengthened under Mikel Arteta’s leadership and remains in contention for top honours. However, as Howe suggests, talk of moves often intensifies only when transfer windows approach.

With Newcastle focused on their season objectives and both Gordon and Tonali under long-term contracts, any potential pursuit from Arsenal would require significant negotiation. For now, Howe’s message is clear: external rumours will not distract his squad as they continue their campaign.

The broader debate over media influence and player focus remains a familiar theme in modern football, but Newcastle’s priority is performance on the pitch. As the season reaches its decisive stages, speculation is likely to continue – yet the club’s ambitions remain unchanged.