Barcelona's Gordon Pursuit Could Complicate Rashford Deal, Says Romano

Barcelona find themselves juggling multiple attacking targets ahead of the summer window, with the potential signing of Anthony Gordon now threatening to muddy the waters surrounding Marcus Rashford's future at the Catalan club.

Rashford has spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United and is now gearing up for England's 2026 World Cup campaign. The Spanish outfit are keen to retain the England international, but therein lies the problem: they're unwilling to activate the €30million (£26m, $35m) purchase clause currently in place.

Instead, Barcelona want to negotiate fresh loan terms, with a permanent transfer pencilled in for 2027. Manchester United, however, have made their position abundantly clear—they want Rashford off the wage bill permanently this summer, not tied up in another temporary arrangement.

Enter Anthony Gordon. The Newcastle winger, another left-sided operator and one of the Premier League's standout performers in that role, has become Barcelona's primary focus in the transfer market. The two clubs are actively discussing a move for the Englishman, which inevitably raises questions about Rashford's prospects.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has suggested the Gordon situation could have a tangible impact on Rashford's negotiations. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano explained: "It could affect the Rashford deal, but from what I'm hearing, not necessarily in the sense that Barcelona called Rashford's camp saying they're abandoning the deal because they've signed Gordon."

The issue, Romano suggested, is primarily financial. Should Barcelona splash significant funds on Gordon, finding €30million for Rashford plus his substantial wages becomes considerably more challenging. "If they spend big money on Anthony Gordon, investing €30million on Marcus Rashford with a big salary could be more complicated," Romano noted.

However, the journalist flagged another possibility: Barcelona might attempt to work creatively with Manchester United. "They could be more creative with Man Utd, saying 'Okay, we had to invest in another player. If we want to keep Rashford, we can find a way together,'" Romano suggested.

Manchester United's stance has remained consistent throughout this saga. The club has repeatedly insisted on either the €30million fee or Rashford's return next year, with their own plans to be determined at that point.

"It's still an open story," Romano concluded, leaving the situation very much in flux.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Barcelona and Manchester United are scheduled to hold talks this week regarding Rashford. The talkSPORT reporter noted that Rashford has already agreed personal terms and is awaiting a club-to-club arrangement. Manchester United have been steadfast in their messaging: Barcelona must pay the €30million clause or the conversation ends there.