Anthony Gordon to Barcelona: Why ahead is in such excessive demand after scoring simply six Premier League objectives final season

Anthony Gordon’s imminent transfer from Newcastle to Barcelona has raised extra questions than solutions.

Gordon will endure a medical on the membership on Thursday after the membership agreed a payment with Newcastle to signal the winger. Sky Sports activities Information understands the payment is £69.3m (€80m) inclusive of add-ons and in agreeing a deal, the LaLiga giants have fended off competitors from Bayern Munich.

However after Gordon scored solely six league objectives final season, it begs the query as to what makes him so interesting to Barca when Marcus Rashford is correct there for lower than a 3rd of the value.

The membership’s hierarchy have remained hesitant to make the deal for the Manchester United ahead everlasting, but they’ve proven none of that warning along with his worldwide team-mate regardless of their monetary restrictions.

The query is, why does Gordon enchantment a lot to them and what does he supply that Rashford would not?

What are Barcelona in search of?

Whether or not it was Gordon, Rashford or another person, Hansi Flick was very clearly available in the market for a large attacker who additionally had the flexibility to play throughout the entrance line.

With curiosity in Julian Alvarez nonetheless excessive, one would think about the Argentine can be the first-choice quantity 9. A back-up that would cowl all areas if wanted seems to the profile they’re in search of.

That description matches Rashford’s profile. Ordinarily working off the left, the 28-year-old has made seven appearances by means of the center for the Spotify Camp Nou outfit along with the occasions he performed there at Outdated Trafford.

Gordon is much much less skilled centrally, however Eddie Howe turned to him as he appeared for extra pace from his frontline all through final time period.

To his credit score, he was efficient when performed there. 9 of his 17 objectives final season got here when he led the road, together with 5 in 5 Champions League video games. However so was Rashford. His return of 4 in seven is nothing to show your nostril up at.

Throughout all positions domestically, regardless of solely beginning 50 per cent of the time, Rashford had the much better output. His 19 objective contributions in 36 video games compares to Gordon’s 10 in 34. Mix the European stats although and issues are extra even.

For Rashford, it’s 28 in 49. In the meantime, for Gordon it’s 22 in 46. On a per sport foundation, Rashford nonetheless nearly leads the way in which, however it reveals the energy of Gordon’s European performances which may’ve been a deciding issue.

Gordon’s European kind influencing Barca’s transfer

Solely Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane scored extra Champions League objectives than Gordon in 2025/26. Add in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Julian Alvarez and Vinicius Junior, then you’ve gotten the one 5 gamers with extra objective contributions as an entire.

The place Gordon and Newcastle have struggled probably the most this season is after they have not been provided house to assault. They’ve crushed the likes of Man Metropolis, Man Utd, Chelsea and Brighton this season. All groups that Newcastle may hit on the break.

Nonetheless, additionally they dropped factors in opposition to 4 of the underside six. These are video games Newcastle would’ve anticipated to win.

In European competitors, video games are typically extra open. Check out the Champions League semi-final first leg between PSG and Bayern Munich – the opposite crew in for Gordon – as a first-rate instance.

Barcelona have received back-to-back LaLiga titles underneath Flick, however have not made a dent within the Champions League but. Gordon’s document of averaging a objective contribution per sport this season will enchantment to the decision-makers who shall be how they’ll get nearer to a sixth European Cup.

Work charge impacting Flick’s considering

Away from finish product, there may be one different issue that would have led Barcelona down the Gordon path. That being his work charge.

Off the ball, Gordon covers much more distance than Rashford. That additionally applies to Robert Lewandowski too.

Whereas Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are superior, the truth that Gordon is an enchancment on Flick’s present central choices on this space is likely to be what makes him so interesting in comparison with the in-house possibility of Rashford.

The 25-year-old’s added defensive accountability for the Magpies signifies that he has additionally received possession much more continuously than each Rashford and Lewandowski too.

By including Gordon’s work charge, Barcelona can press greater with much more depth if he’s used in the course of the entrance three.

Does Gordon’s payment truly profit Barcelona?

It sounds unusual on paper, however they’d argue that it does.

With Gordon being three years youthful than Rashford, the assumption from the membership is that they’ll unfold the price of this deal over extra years which is able to assist with their monetary honest play restrictions, with Sky Sports activities Information understanding that he’ll signal a five-year deal.

Spanish journalist Roger Torello instructed Sky Sports activities: “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.

“Clearly, Gordon’s wage is decrease than Rashford’s too. The deal for Rashford continues to be an possibility, however the circumstances have modified. The membership count on to get one other mortgage, however Manchester United do not need to ponder that.”