Barcelona are set to sign Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon, a move that might well have a knock-on effect on Man United loanee Marcus Rashford.
Rashford has spent the season on loan with Barcelona.(Image: David Aliaga/NurPhoto)
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When Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon see each other for the first time at England's training base in Kansas City this summer, it might be a little awkward.
Barcelona have agreed a deal worth more than £69m to sign Gordon. Rashford, who has contributed 14 goals and 14 assists on loan at the Camp Nou this season, had hoped Barcelona would fork out the £26m needed to sign him on a permanent basis this summer, but that is looking increasingly unlikely.
In theory, Barca could still trigger their option to sign Rashford, but the expectation is they will now step away from the United winger, who won't be happy with their decision to sign Gordon from Newcastle instead.
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The optics aren't great for Rashford. He has enjoyed a solid season at Barcelona, reaching double figures for goals and assists, and has played an important role in their La Liga triumph, but his dream permanent move to Spain might now be off the cards.
When Gordon's representatives were spotted in Barcelona, it felt like it could be a ruse to put pressure on United to lower the price for Rashford, following months of noise from Spain that Barca were pushing for a reduced fee.
The prospect of Barca spending close to £70m on Gordon when they were haggling on the price for Rashford seemed like pie-in-the-sky stuff. Unfortunately for Rashford, the transfer window throws up its fair share of surprises.
If Barca do opt against signing Rashford, it's not a great look for him. He will share an England dressing room throughout the World Cup with a player Barca have decided is worth paying £43m more to sign than Rashford would have cost them.
Perhaps wages played a part in Barcelona's thinking. Gordon earns around £150,000 per week at Newcastle, while Rashford's wages will increase to £325,000-a-week by virtue of United being back in the Champions League next season.
Rashford and Gordon in England training in 2024.
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Barcelona could double Gordon's salary and still pay him less than Rashford earns. For context, Rashford signed his current United contract in the summer of 2023, following an impressive 30-goal campaign.
Gordon's numbers from the last two seasons are not impressive, which makes it even worse for Rashford. The Newcastle forward has scored 26 goals across two campaigns, but 11 of those have come from the penalty spot.
What's more, Rashford has shown Barcelona that he can cut it in La Liga - who knows how Gordon will fare in a new country and a new league. It seemed like a no-brainer for Barcelona to exercise their £26m option.
Should Barcelona confirm they have no interest in signing Rashford permanently, perhaps something has gone on behind the scenes to influence the decision. Rashford was two minutes late to a Barcelona team meeting in September and Hansi Flick subsequently dropped him for a game against Getafe. Rashford bounced back and his fine form towards the end of the season helped Barca retain the La Liga title. If Barca walk away from the £26m deal, whatever their reason for doing so, the optics are not good for Rashford.
So what next for Rashford if not Barcelona? Bayern Munich are in the market for a left winger and have signed a handful of Premier League players over the last few years.
Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz have all made the switch from England to Germany's biggest club. Rashford wants Champions League football, and Bayern would tick a lot of boxes for him.
The question is whether Bayern would want to sign Rashford on a permanent transfer and meet his wage demands. United are aware it's not easy to shift a player who earns £325,000 per week.