News Focus
- Barcelona cannot afford the €75m fee demanded by Newcastle United for winger Anthony Gordon.
- The Spanish club must prioritise signing a new striker and a centre-back this summer.
- German journalist Christian Falk reports that Barcelona were offered the player but had to decline due to financial limits.
- Newcastle are willing to sell the England international to help meet Financial Fair Play rules.
- Barcelona will now target cheaper alternatives such as Ez Abde and Jan Virgili for the left-wing position.
FC Barcelona have ended their pursuit of Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon because of his high transfer fee. The Catalan club planned to sign two new forwards this summer. They need a left winger and a striker to replace Robert Lewandowski. However, they must also buy a centre-back. This means they cannot spend €75m on one player.
Sporting director Deco had identified Gordon as a perfect target. The 23-year-old England star is younger than current option Raphinha. He is also seen as a better long-term choice than Marcus Rashford, who is only on loan from Manchester United.
Journalist Christian Falk reports that Gordon’s agents have offered him to Barcelona. The representatives have also held talks with Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. They know Newcastle need to sell players to balance their books for Financial Fair Play. Despite this, Barcelona cannot pay the asking price.
The left-wing spot remains a problem for coach Hansi Flick. If Rashford does not stay, the team will be short of options. However, club officials now believe they must focus on less expensive players. Young talents like Ez Abde and Jan Virgili are back on the radar as realistic targets for the summer window.