Despite the significantly higher transfer fee compared to the buy-out clause for Rashford, Barcelona believe a move for Gordon makes more financial sense in the long term. The club's hierarchy feels that Gordon’s lower salary demands and the ability to offer him a longer contract due to his age will allow them to amortise the transfer cost over a greater period, fitting within their strict financial constraints.
This strategic approach comes as Newcastle face pressure to manage their own squad. Towards the end of the campaign, Magpies head coach Eddie Howe admitted that Gordon had been left out of certain matchday squads because he was “looking at the future”, fuelling speculation that the club are preparing for life without their star man.