Anthony Gordon looks set to become a Barcelona player this summer thanks to the intervention of club president Joan Laporta. The Newcastle winger is expected to join the La Liga champions in a £69.3 million plus add-ons deal and is currently undergoing a medical.
Laporta's Phone Call Seals the Deal
Gordon, 25, has been linked with a move away from St James' Park, with Barcelona and Bayern Munich holding strong interest. However, it is the Spanish giants that have won the race for the England international. German media outlet Bild reports that Laporta spoke to Gordon on the phone to seal the move.
The newspaper claims the Bundesliga champions had agreed personal terms with Gordon, but their offering of a lower transfer fee than Barcelona dragged out negotiations, allowing Hansi Flick's side to take control of proceedings.
The report added that Laporta, in his second stint as Barcelona president, assured the Newcastle star that he will be registered without difficulty given the club's continuing financial issues.
Bayern's Bluff Theory Backfires
Bayern Munich directors are said to have believed that Barcelona were bluffing in their negotiations for Gordon and that news of their talks were leaked purposely to pressure Manchester United into lowering their asking fee for Marcus Rashford. The 28-year-old is set to return to Old Trafford this summer, with Barcelona possessing the option to buy him permanently for £26 million. However, a deal to sign Gordon was already in place by the time Bayern realised Barcelona's intentions, as they outbid Vincent Kompany's side by £10 million.
Laporta Confirms Progress
Laporta confirmed that the move for Gordon was heading into the final stages after enjoying a dinner with Barcelona's sporting director Deco, his advisor Alejandro Echevarria, as well as Juanma Lopez and Andy Bara, the agents of Joan Garcia and Dani Olmo. The 63-year-old said: "The Gordon deal is being finalised, but it's not done yet. I've been informed of everything."
Newcastle are set to lose one of their best players and have allowed the Spanish side to spread the cost of signing Gordon over the length of his contract at the Nou Camp. Barcelona will settle the initial £69.3 million fee in instalments for the next five years. With debts of more than £2 billion, the La Liga champions insisted on the structure of the deal.
Financial Implications for Newcastle and Everton
Newcastle will receive a portion of any future sale of Gordon, while Everton will bank a sizeable fee from the exit of their academy graduate. The Toffees inserted a sell-on clause into the £45 million sale of Gordon to Newcastle in 2023, which will see David Moyes' side earn 15% from his move to Spain.
Rashford's Future in Doubt
Gordon's impending arrival has cast doubt on whether Rashford will continue in Catalonia. Talks are continuing between Manchester United and Barcelona, with the Premier League club convinced the Blaugrana have the funds to sign the forward.
