Newcastle United have begun identifying potential replacements for Anthony Gordon following his agreed move to Barcelona earlier this week, and their pursuit of Ez Abde could indirectly offset some of the cost for the Catalan club.
According to MD, Newcastle have turned their attention to Abde as a direct replacement for Gordon. The 24-year-old has just completed his most productive season to date and was previously a target for Barcelona before their focus shifted to securing Gordon’s signature.
Should Newcastle complete a deal for Abde, Barcelona stand to benefit financially. Real Betis currently hold a €60 million release clause on the Morocco international, and Barcelona retain a 20% sell-on clause from their 2023 sale of Abde to Los Verdiblancos. This would see Barcelona receive up to €12 million from any deal exceeding their original agreement.
Newcastle are likely to attempt to negotiate a fee below Betis’s €60 million valuation, but the Seville-based club are reportedly unwilling to compromise on the price of one of their key players. Barcelona are hoping Betis holds firm, as this would effectively reduce the net cost of acquiring Gordon to €68 million, rather than the initially reported €80 million.
The potential ramifications for Barcelona don’t end there. The report suggests that if Abde were to leave Betis, they would then pursue Jan Virgili as a replacement. Barcelona also have a financial stake in any deal for Virgili, holding a 40% sell-on clause for the Mallorca player, who is available for €12 million due to a relegation release clause activated this week. A double move involving Abde and Virgili would maximize Barcelona’s financial gains from these player sales.
While Barcelona would welcome both transfers, the likelihood of both occurring remains uncertain at this stage. The situation is fluid, and dependent on Newcastle’s willingness to meet Betis’s demands and Betis’s subsequent pursuit of Virgili.
