As Newcastle United and Brighton battled for a spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals, Anthony Gordon was sent off late in normal time. Brighton quickly equalised, forcing extra time, where Danny Welbeck scored the winner to eliminate Newcastle.
Gordon’s red card came after shoving Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke. Though the incident looked worse than it was, it still earned him a red card and a three-game suspension.
Ironically, Newcastle could soon reunite Gordon and van Hecke, as reports suggest the Magpies are eyeing the Brighton defender for a summer transfer.
According to Graeme Bailey of TBR Football, several Premier League clubs — along with Bayer Leverkusen — are interested in van Hecke, with Newcastle among them. Newcastle are prioritizing centre-backs this summer, and van Hecke has impressed since joining Brighton in 2020.
While there’s uncertainty around Lloyd Kelly’s future, Newcastle seem set to pursue van Hecke regardless. At just 24 years old, van Hecke still has room to grow, and Eddie Howe could help him reach his full potential.
Additionally, van Hecke recently broke into the Dutch national squad. A future partnership between him and a fully fit Sven Botman could benefit both Newcastle and the Netherlands. If the price is right, this move makes a lot of sense.
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