Why have Barca prioritised Gordon over Rashford?

SOURCE 1 (Sky Sports): Barcelona remain interested in another deal for Marcus Rashford regardless of the imminent signing of Anthony Gordon - but the Spanish club are targeting Julian Alvarez next. There has been widespread speculation that Gordon's £69.3m deal is instead of signing Rashford - but Sky Sports News understands that is not the case and every option is still on the table.

Barcelona have until June 15 to activate their £26m option to buy Rashford, although Sky Sports News has reported before that the Spanish club have an interest in another loan arrangement. This is in part due to Manchester United's continued insistence that they are not interested in renegotiating the option fee to sell the England forward. However, Sky Sports News expects Barcelona to make a big-money move for Atletico Madrid striker Alvarez once they seal the signing of Gordon this week, pending a medical. A look at the stats behind why Barcelona have moved for Anthony Gordon in a proposed €80million move. As we previously reported, Alvarez is keen on a move to Barca but he is valued by Atletico as high as £130m. Ruben Uria, a prominent Atletico journalist in Madrid, has reported Barca have already informally offered £61m plus Ferran Torres - but Atletico said no. Barcelona have more money this summer after winning LaLiga - and their priority for that pot is to sign a winger, striker and centre-back. An official, money-only bid is anticipated soon for Alvarez so, while signing Gordon changes nothing for Rashford, what a successful Alvarez mission means for him remains to be seen. Rashford notched an impressive 28 goal contributions across all competitions for Barcelona as they reclaimed the title from Real Madrid. If an agreement is not reached between Barcelona and United, there is confidence at United that Rashford could be sold for a higher fee elsewhere - especially if he impresses in this summer's World Cup for England, where he will contend with Gordon for a place on the left wing. If an agreement for Rashford's departure is not agreed after the World Cup, Rashford will return to Carrington. But expectations are that we have still seen the last of Rashford in a Manchester United shirt.

Key points

• Barcelona have until June 15 to activate their £26m option to buy Rashford, although Sky Sports News has reported before that the Spanish club have an interest in another loan arrangement.
• This is in part due to Manchester United's continued insistence that they are not interested in renegotiating the option fee to sell the England forward.
• However, Sky Sports News expects Barcelona to make a big-money move for Atletico Madrid striker Alvarez once they seal the signing of Gordon this week, pending a medical.
• A look at the stats behind why Barcelona have moved for Anthony Gordon in a proposed €80million move.
• As we previously reported, Alvarez is keen on a move to Barca but he is valued by Atletico as high as £130m.