Barcelona's Gordon Snub Could Leave Door Open for Rashford Return

There's a glimmer of hope for Marcus Rashford as Barcelona appear to have shelved any serious pursuit of Newcastle's Anthony Gordon – a development that could prove significant for the Manchester United loanee's immediate future.

Rashford is due to head back to Old Trafford when his temporary spell in Catalonia concludes at season's end. Barcelona hold a €30million (£26m) option to make the arrangement permanent, but the club are reportedly reluctant to activate it. Instead, they're keen to keep the England winger on loan for another campaign, with designs on a permanent deal materialising in summer 2027. United, however, are eager to move the 28-year-old on sooner rather than later.

Enter Anthony Gordon. The Newcastle left-winger has caught Barcelona's eye as a potential alternative, having impressed considerably under Eddie Howe's management. The 25-year-old has netted 17 goals and created five assists across 46 appearances in all competitions this term – a stellar return that's understandably attracted attention.

Yet Barcelona's pursuit appears to have stalled, according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano. The stumbling block is straightforward: Gordon's asking price is simply too steep. Newcastle are demanding in the region of €100million (£86.5m), with potential negotiations bringing that figure down to somewhere between €80-90million plus add-ons. For a club already financially stretched, that's a prohibitive sum.

Romano outlined the situation on his YouTube channel: "Barcelona are checking on some wingers on the market, but from what I am hearing, Anthony Gordon is absolutely too expensive. He's going to be very expensive this summer."

The competitive landscape for Gordon further complicates matters. Bayern Munich are actively engaged in discussions with both Newcastle and Gordon's representatives, positioning themselves as serious contenders. Several Premier League clubs have also registered their interest, meaning the Magpies' winger will have no shortage of suitors when the window opens.

With Gordon seemingly out of reach, Barcelona may well turn their attentions back to Rashford – a prospect that could work in the winger's favour. If the Blaugrana cannot land their primary target, retaining Rashford on loan rather than allowing him to leave represents a more straightforward solution than pursuing alternatives in an expensive market.