Anthony Gordon to Barcelona: Why forward is in such high demand after scoring just six Premier League goals last season
Anthony Gordon is set to complete a move to Barcelona from Newcastle; Sky Sports News understands the fee is £69.3m (€80m) inclusive of add-ons; Marcus Rashford's future remains up in the air with Barca hesitant to make his loan permanent
Thursday 28 May 2026 13:29, UK
Anthony Gordon's imminent move from Newcastle to Barcelona has raised more questions than answers.
Gordon will undergo a medical at the club on Thursday after the club agreed a fee with Newcastle to sign the winger. Sky Sports News understands the fee is £69.3m (€80m) inclusive of add-ons and in agreeing a deal, the LaLiga giants have fended off competition from Bayern Munich.
But after Gordon scored only six league goals last season, it begs the question as to what makes him so appealing to Barca when Marcus Rashford is right there for less than a third of the price.
The club's hierarchy have remained hesitant to make the deal for the Manchester United forward permanent, yet they have shown none of that caution with his international team-mate despite their financial restrictions.
The question is, why does Gordon appeal so much to them and what does he offer that Rashford doesn't?
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What are Barcelona looking for?
Whether it was Gordon, Rashford or someone else, Hansi Flick was very clearly in the market for a wide attacker who also had the versatility to play across the front line.
With interest in Julian Alvarez still high, one would imagine the Argentine would be the first-choice number nine. A back-up that could cover all areas if needed appears to the profile they are looking for.
That description matches Rashford's profile. Ordinarily operating off the left, the 28-year-old has made seven appearances through the middle for the Spotify Camp Nou outfit in addition to the times he played there at Old Trafford.
Gordon is far less experienced centrally, but Eddie Howe turned to him as he looked for more speed from his frontline throughout last term.
To his credit, he was effective when played there. Nine of his 17 goals last season came when he led the line, including five in five Champions League games. But so was Rashford. His return of four in seven is nothing to turn your nose up at.
Across all positions domestically, despite only starting 50 per cent of the time, Rashford had the far better output. His 19 goal contributions in 36 games compares to Gordon's 10 in 34. Combine the European stats though and things are more even.
For Rashford, it is 28 in 49. Meanwhile, for Gordon it is 22 in 46. On a per game basis, Rashford still just about leads the way, but it shows the strength of Gordon's European performances which could've been a deciding factor.
Gordon's European form influencing Barca's move
Only Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane scored more Champions League goals than Gordon in 2025/26. Add in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Julian Alvarez and Vinicius Junior, then you have the only five players with more goal contributions as a whole.
Where Gordon and Newcastle have struggled the most this season is when they haven't been offered space to attack. They have beaten the likes of Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea and Brighton this season. All teams that Newcastle could hit on the break.
However, they also dropped points against four of the bottom six. Those are games Newcastle would've expected to win.
In European competition, games tend to be more open. Take a look at the Champions League semi-final first leg between PSG and Bayern Munich - the other team in for Gordon - as a prime example.
Barcelona have won back-to-back LaLiga titles under Flick, but haven't made a dent in the Champions League yet. Gordon's record of averaging a goal contribution per game this season will appeal to the decision-makers who will be looking at how they can get closer to a sixth European Cup.
Work rate impacting Flick's thinking
Away from end product, there is one other factor that could have led Barcelona down the Gordon path. That being his work rate.
Off the ball, Gordon covers far more distance than Rashford. That also applies to Robert Lewandowski too.
While Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are superior, the fact that Gordon is an improvement on Flick's current central options in this area might be what makes him so appealing compared to the in-house option of Rashford.
The 25-year-old's added defensive responsibility for the Magpies means that he has also won possession far more frequently than both Rashford and Lewandowski too.
By adding Gordon's work rate, Barcelona can press higher with even more intensity if he is used in the middle of the front three.
Does Gordon's fee actually benefit Barcelona?
It sounds strange on paper, but they would argue that it does.
With Gordon being three years younger than Rashford, the belief from the club is that they can spread the cost of this deal over more years which will help with their financial fair play restrictions, with Sky Sports News understanding that he will sign a five-year deal.
Spanish journalist Roger Torello told Sky Sports: "The club have explained that it is easier for financial fair play to sign a player like Gordon than Rashford. You have more years to mortgage the fee.
"Obviously, Gordon's salary is lower than Rashford's too. The deal for Rashford is still an option, but the conditions have changed. The club expect to get another loan, but Manchester United don't want to contemplate that."
