Anthony Gordon heading to Spain for Barcelona medical

By Ian Parker, Press Association

England forward Anthony Gordon is travelling to Spain as he closes in on a £69 million (€80 million) move from Newcastle to Barcelona.

Gordon is heading to Catalonia to undergo a medical after the two clubs agreed on a fee for the 25-year-old.

The Press Association understands the Spanish champions have agreed to pay the Magpies in excess of 80 million euros – around £69.3m – to sign a player they faced in the Champions League this season.

Gordon had also attracted attention from Bayern Munich and a host of other suitors, and Newcastle will have been keen to act quickly after the frustration of last summer and Alexander Isak’s protracted move to Liverpool.

The deal will also see the Magpies boost their coffers with a significant profit on the £45m they paid Everton in January 2023 at a time when they are looking to rebuild after a disappointing campaign.

As the rumour mill went into full swing with the end of the campaign approaching, Howe decided to leave the player out of his team on his return from injury, citing the need to focus on the future.

If the deal is completed, Gordon will become the sixth member of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad at an overseas club, joining Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, Ivan Toney and Jarell Quansah.