Barcelona have made Ez Abde their main alternative to rashford as they look for a new left winger this summer. Marcus Rashford remains tied to Manchester United’s €30m buy option, and Barcelona do not intend to pay it.
Rashford and Gordon costs
Manchester United are holding firm on the €30m figure in Rashford’s contract, which has pushed Barcelona toward other targets. The club met with the agents of Anthony Gordon on Monday night, but the Newcastle United winger could cost suitors upward of €80m.
That price gap has left Barcelona with a narrower field. Gordon is a player the club like, but the numbers on the deal are far heavier than the Rashford option and far beyond what they want to spend for the position.
Ez Abde in Seville
Matteo Moretto identified Real Betis winger Ez Abde as the other name high on Barcelona’s shortlist, and he also described him as the Spanish option. Moretto said, “La otra opción «española» es Abde Ezzalzouli.”
Abde has backed up that interest with 13 goals and 13 assists in 39 appearances this season. Barcelona previously sold him to Betis and now hold a 20% sell-on fee, while Abde could be on his way out for as little as €25m this summer.
Barcelona’s cheaper lane
RCD Mallorca winger Jan Virgili is another name on the shortlist as an economic alternative, and Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup has also been mentioned. Interest in re-signing Virgili appears to depend on Barcelona’s budget and whether they can strike a deal for one of the other options first.
That leaves Barcelona with a clear price ladder: Rashford at €30m, Abde at a possible €25m, and Gordon far above that at more than €80m. For now, Abde is the one closest to the club’s preferred spending range.
