Barcelona sporting director already has €70m agreement in place for Premier League ace | OneFootball

Barcelona are moving closer towards an unexpected attacking signing after realising that their two preferred striker targets may simply be impossible to secure this summer.

According to fresh reports from SPORT, Barcelona have ‘practically reached an agreement’ to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United.

It must be noted that the Catalan giants initially prioritised major moves for Julian Alvarez and Joao Pedro. 

However, both operations have become extremely difficult for different reasons, forcing the sporting department to seriously rethink its strategy.

A strategic signing

As a result, there is growing belief that Gordon could solve multiple problems at once. 

Barcelona have shifted their attention to Anthony Gordon. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Barcelona value the fact that the England international can operate both on the left wing and through the middle as a false nine, giving Hansi Flick greater tactical flexibility heading into next season.

The report suggests that Barça see Gordon as a way to “kill two birds with one stone” because the club could later explore lower-cost options for the striker position elsewhere in the market.

For several months, Barcelona’s main objective had been to secure a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski. 

However, reality in the transfer market appears to have changed the club’s thinking significantly.

There have been contacts

Gordon is ready to move to Barcelona. (Photo by Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)

The report explains that Gordon’s representatives had already approached Barcelona weeks ago, but the operation was not viewed as urgent at the time. 

Now, however, circumstances have changed dramatically, and Barcelona now believe that signing the English attacker for under €70 million could represent strong value considering his versatility and profile, although no final decision has been made yet. 

More importantly, Gordon and his entourage reportedly believe there is a genuine opportunity for him to secure regular playing time in Catalonia, which works in Barcelona’s favour.

Although Anthony Gordon may not carry the same glamour as Julian Alvarez or Joao Pedro, the reality is that he could actually be a smarter signing for Barcelona under the current circumstances.