Anthony Gordon is set to complete a transfer from Newcastle United to Barcelona as Manchester United wait for the La Liga side to make a move for Marcus Rashford this summer
Newcastle United v West Ham United - Premier League
Anthony Gordon is set to leave Newcastle to join Barcelona(Image: Getty)
View 2 Images
Anthony Gordon is set to join Barcelona after Newcastle United agreed a £69.3million plus add-ons sale, leaving Marcus Rashford's future in uncertainty. After a day of talks between clubs, Gordon is now scheduled for a medical as the transfer nears fruition.
The England international is expected to double his weekly wage to around £300,000 per week, as Barca splash the cash ahead of the World Cup. The La Liga champions have taken a very different approach to dealings with the Magpies, in comparison to their work with Manchester United.
They can sign Rashford for £26m thanks to a clause in his loan move, during which the 28-year-old impressed after joining from United. But, Barcelona have been attempting to negotiate the fee down as they manage their financial compliance in Spain.
Gordon's favoured role is on the left, where he is set to challenge for a place in Thomas Tuchel's England lineup against Rashford. However, it has been claimed that Hansi Flick is open to signing both players this summer.
Rashford is already said to have agreed to almost half his salary to remain with Barca, while another loan has been touted and would now seem a more likely outcome. United's preference would be to sell at the price they agreed last summer.
Whether United chiefs are receptive to a different deal following Barcelona's move for Gordon remains to be seen. The Catalan club are showing their spending power but can also point to the move for the Newcastle star as a reason for not being able to afford greater outlay.
Gordon's arrival will also allow Barcelona to show they are not in desperate need of reinforcement for the position. Rashford had already flitted in and out of the starting XI, despite adding 14 goals and 14 assists.
It leaves United in a difficult position concerning Rashford's future. The academy product remains under contract until 2028, but was only planning to remain at Camp Nou this summer.
Marcus Rashford of Barcelona
Marcus Rashford has spent the season on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Speaking after winning the league with Barca, Rashford was hopeful of extending his stay but appeared to hint it was not a certainty. "This is the perfect way I want it to end," he said.
"I’m very happy, I just want to enjoy today. I live in the moment. At the end of the season we will see.
“I came here to win and we do this so I’m very happy. It’s an incredible feeling.
“Over the season we deserved it, we were the best team. We had some bad moments but we always come back and fight to improve.”