Marcus Rashford’s return to Man United takes a twist as transfer deal is reached | Soccer | Sports

Barcelona have reached a complete agreement to sign Anthony Gordon as a potential replacement for Marcus Rashford. The Catalan giants have announced their interest after Bayern Munich expressed a clear intention to acquire Gordon’s signature. Newcastle are prepared to sell to the La Liga champions and also have an option to sign loanee Rashford permanently for £26 million this summer.

Barcelona are also said to have agreed a permanent deal with Rashford on personal terms, but with striker Robert Lewandowski set to leave the club this summer when his contract expires, Barcelona are reportedly looking to make several key attacking signings and are hoping to negotiate a reduced fee with United.

Speculation surrounding Gordon, who joined Newcastle from Everton for £45m in January 2023, has been rife for two seasons. His catalog of potential transfer targets extends far beyond just two of Europe’s top clubs, with Liverpool maintaining a longstanding interest.

However, Barcelona have beaten all rivals in signing Gordon and he will soon fly to Spain for a medical check.

However, talkSPORT claims Rashford remains an option for Barcelona, ​​with the two England internationals potentially joining eventually. However, there is little money available and Michael Carrick is already linked with a return to United and has expressed his desire to work with the player.

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Gordon has been a pivotal figure in Newcastle’s resurgence over the past few seasons. His attacking partnership with Alexander Isak, who left for Liverpool in a £130m deal last summer alongside Jacob Murphy, has turned out to be one of the most eye-catching combinations in the division.

The winger’s performance was one of the driving forces behind the club’s historic journey to end their 70-year wait for a major silver medal in the 2024-25 Carabao Cup final. He also contributed to qualifying for this season’s Champions League.

However, Mr Gordon’s influence has diminished slightly this campaign as persistent rumors swirl about a possible exit from Tyneside. Despite this, he scored 17 goals, 10 of which were in the Champions League.

That tally included a goal against Barcelona, ​​but it was just a consolation at St James’ Park, with Rashford scoring twice on his return to English football.

With speculation mounting as the end of the season approaches, head coach Eddie Howe opted to leave the forward out of the starting XI after his return from injury, suggesting the club may already be planning for the future.

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“Obviously at this stage of the season, some of the things we have to do will be focused on next year,” Howe said. “Anthony has just come back from injury, but I think the team has played well in his absence in part looking to the future.”

He added: “There is no update from me. These are discussions that could potentially be taking place, but they have nothing to do with me.”