Earlier this week we reported that Anthony Gordon was close to Barcelona. That deal is now done, and the bigger question is what it does to Marcus Rashford. Barcelona announced Gordon in a reported £70m move, with a five-year contract and a 20% sell-on clause, but the club’s work on Rashford is still not finished.

Why Gordon's arrival does not end the Rashford story

Gordon said he found out very late that Barca were serious, but once the move became real there was never any question. "I always wanted Barca," he told talksport.com. That fits the size of the deal, because Barcelona are not treating him like a short-term gamble.

The harder part is Rashford. Barcelona’s move for Gordon does not necessarily rule him out, with the club still considering another loan or a reduced fee. That matters because Rashford’s loan output was strong enough to keep the conversation alive. He made 49 appearances, scored 14 goals and added 14 assists, with a goal or assist every 105 minutes.

That is why this looks less like a clean either-or and more like a squad and wage decision. Barca are first in La Liga, and that gives them room to keep shaping the attack around different price points rather than making one signing close every other door.

What Barcelona are really buying

The Gordon move also tells you something about Barcelona’s priorities. A reported £70m fee, a five-year contract and a 20% sell-on clause point to a club planning for the medium term, not just patching one hole in the front line.

Teddy Sheringham put the Rashford side of it plainly: "Yes, things can turn around." He added that Rashford would need to win people back again, and that Michael Carrick has to judge whether he knows him well enough to get the best out of him. That is a fair warning, but it is not the same as saying the deal is dead.

Barcelona have spent big on Gordon, yet the Rashford file is still open. If anything, the new signing changes the terms of the discussion, because the club can now choose between a permanent move, another loan or a cheaper compromise without having to solve the whole issue in one step.

FAQ

Does Anthony Gordon’s move to Barcelona rule out Marcus Rashford?

No. The brief says Gordon’s move does not necessarily rule out Rashford. Barcelona are still considering another loan or a reduced fee, so the Rashford conversation remains open even after Gordon’s arrival.

Why does Anthony Gordon’s Barcelona deal affect Marcus Rashford?

Because the deal changes Barcelona’s bargaining position, wage structure and squad picture. Gordon arrives on a reported £70m deal and a five-year contract, while Rashford’s future is still being worked through rather than settled.

How much has Marcus Rashford done on loan at Barcelona?

Rashford has 49 appearances, with 14 goals and 14 assists. The brief also says he averaged a goal or assist every 105 minutes, which is why Barcelona still see a permanent deal as viable.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →