Barcelona in talks with Newcastle to sign Gordon

Barcelona in talks with Newcastle to sign Gordon

Barcelona has entered discussions with Newcastle United concerning the acquisition of forward Anthony Gordon, joining Bayern Munich in the quest for the England international.

The reigning La Liga champions are expressing serious interest and are currently negotiating with Newcastle regarding a potential transfer.

Despite having experienced financial challenges in recent years, Barcelona is believed to possess the capability to utilize funds derived from player sales for new signings.

Bayern Munich has also engaged in formal conversations with Newcastle, though earlier reports from BBC Sport indicate a discrepancy in valuation between the two clubs.

Newcastle's chief executive, David Hopkinson, emphasized in March that the club would only entertain player sales on "our terms."

In light of the club’s strong negotiating position, they are likely to demand a minimum of £70 million for Gordon, whose contract extends until 2030.

Newcastle's need to reinforce their squad this summer is particularly pressing after concluding the Premier League season in a disappointing 12th place.

Having previously represented Everton, Gordon is viewed as the most likely key player to leave Newcastle. The club's top scorer was benched for the final four matches of the season, as head coach Eddie Howe looked toward the future.

During the away match against Fulham, supporters briefly chanted Gordon's name following a 2-0 defeat, which felt reminiscent of a farewell.

When asked if the 25-year-old had played his last match for Newcastle, Howe responded, "I don't know, as I said in the build up to the game. You can never predict what's going to happen. He obviously goes to the World Cup now, so we wish him well."

In addition to Gordon, Barcelona is also reportedly interested in Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez and Chelsea striker Joao Pedro.

Bayern Munich holds an option to permanently sign Marcus Rashford, Gordon's international team-mate, for £26 million after his loan from Manchester United.

Analysis: A shift in approach after Isak saga

There exists a palpable possibility that Newcastle could lose their leading scorer for the second consecutive summer.

This situation raises the question: have they taken the necessary lessons from the detrimental Alexander Isak saga?

Initially, Newcastle stood firm when Isak sought to join Liverpool, but ultimately, the club capitulated, selling the striker for a British-record £125 million on the final day of the transfer window.

However, this summer, a notable change is evident. Unlike last year, when the club operated without a structured executive body, Newcastle now has a chief executive, Hopkinson, and a sporting director, Ross Wilson, in place.

The absence of a sporting director had a significant impact during the Isak situation, particularly in negotiations with agents.

There has since been a notable shift in strategy and communication.

Former chief executive Darren Eales previously asserted that it would be "crazy" for Newcastle to part with their best players, while Hopkinson has adopted a slightly different stance, indicating in March that the club aims to "maximize the opportunity" and achieve the best possible price if players are to be sold this summer.

Consequently, rather than feeling apprehensive, Newcastle now seems poised to view the competition between Bayern and Barcelona as an opportunity to secure a significant financial return to reinvest in rejuvenating a struggling squad.

In reality, it appears the club has long been preparing for Gordon's potential exit.

Although Gordon has remained involved in training with his teammates—receiving praise for his attitude from Howe—he has found himself confined to the bench in recent weeks. Notably, younger players Sean Neave and Alex Murphy were substituted in ahead of him during the final match against Fulham, illustrating the current situation.