Barcelona have made the first major move of this summer’s transfer window, which only opens on July 1 in Spain, by agreeing a deal worth €80million (£69m; $93m) with Newcastle United for Anthony Gordon.
The deal has several consequences, perhaps most notably for Marcus Rashford, whose stay in Catalonia could end after just one season on loan from Manchester United. Gordon, who was also the subject of interest from Bayern Munich, was one of the premier left-wingers on the market.
The Athletic explained some of this earlier this week. Below, we will compare the attributes of Gordon and Rashford, where the latter could go, and which other left-wingers clubs could go after this summer.
Why did Barcelona go for Gordon over Rashford?
The economic reasons are crucial here. Gordon is three years younger than the 28-year-old Rashford and Barcelona will amortise the transfer fee over a longer contract than they were willing to give the Manchester United forward.
Tactically, Gordon profiles to be a better fit for Barcelona’s high-intensity style in and out of possession.
Rashford had a productive season for Hansi Flick’s side, with 13 goals and 10 assists across La Liga and the Champions League. While those numbers suggest he did his job in place of the oft-injured Raphinha, his 23 combined starts in those competitions ranked 14th in the squad and was fewer than the Brazil international’s 24.
One of the reasons Raphinha is so pivotal to Barcelona is his work out of possession. In 2024-25, he forced 104 high turnovers in the league and Champions League, only behind Pedri (112) and Lamine Yamal (108).
Barcelona’s pressing as a team regressed in 2025-26 due to injuries to Raphinha and Pedri. Rashford struggled to provide off-the-ball intensity, with a noticeable drop in the explosivity that made him a threat as recently as the 2022-23 season at United under Erik ten Hag.
That could be seen in possession too. He preferred the ball to be played to his feet — any pace on the transition and in behind faded over large spaces.
Raphinha averaged 0.08xG from fast-breaks per 90 in the league and Champions League across 2024-25 and 2025-26, scoring six goals from 20 shots. In contrast, Rashford averaged 0.04xG per 90 in 2025-26 with three goals from six shots.
Explosivity in and out of possession, along with a larger repertoire of off-the-ball runs as seen in the graph below using data from Skillcorner, are what Gordon will offer ahead of Rashford.
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Both players have often been wasteful with putting away chances. Gordon has converted just 10 of 29 Opta-defined big chances across the last two Premier League seasons. Rashford has converted five of 15 in La Liga.
Gordon did score 10 of 14 big chances he received in this season’s Champions League, and Barcelona will hope he builds on that.
What next for Rashford?
Rashford’s wages could be a deterrent for some clubs, but should he accept a reduction — as he reportedly did to secure his move to Barcelona — there should be options. Barcelona themselves have not been ruled out just yet, but that door might now be shut after The Athletic reported they are pursuing Julian Alvarez.
Manchester United’s willingness to loan Rashford out again might present some options.
Aston Villa, after securing Champions League football, may require more depth in the frontline. Rashford’s performance against Paris Saint-Germain during Villa’s last stint in the competition was memorable and he fits within Unai Emery’s structure as a ball-carrier who can stretch the pitch.
Newcastle themselves might need a left-winger following Gordon’s departure. Harvey Barnes could become their starter, while Joelinton and Jacob Ramsey have played there.
With no European football, perhaps the need for depth is not urgent but a loan for Rashford could offer a different profile to Barnes and add Premier League experience to a squad that may well undergo an overhaul this summer.
Serie A’s biggest clubs are strapped for cash. But if Milan or Juventus, who both failed to secure Champions League football, make big sales, would Rashford as a short-term rental represent another project a la Scott McTominay, Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Tammy Abraham to get back to the top?
Who else could teams go after?
The premier wide attacking option on the market this summer is Yan Diomande, with The Athletic reporting that Liverpool and several other top clubs are interested in him.
The RB Leipzig winger typically plays on the right but has the ambipedal ability to thrive on the left too. Diomande’s game is characterised by a blend of rapid acceleration and incredible close control at high speeds.
Among wingers across Europe’s top five leagues to have attempted 50 or more take-ons and played at least 900 minutes, his success rate of 55 per cent was second behind Manor Solomon. The clarity in his decision-making at just 19 years of age deserves credit too, with his eight key passes after a take-on only trailing Jeremy Doku’s nine.
Diomande enjoyed an incredible season in front of goal too, with a 49 per cent shot accuracy and a 23 per cent shot-to-goal conversion rate to rack up 12 in the league despite averaging just 1.9 shots per 90.
Leipzig have slapped a €100m price tag on Diomande, which could prove prohibitive for most teams.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola could come slightly cheaper, though signing him will cost a premium too.
Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue are PSG’s first-choice frontline. That has seen Barcola’s starts across Ligue 1 and the Champions League drop from 41 in 2024-25 to 33 this season despite Dembele and Doue missing time with injury.
The 23-year-old offers an impeccable sense of timing when running in behind as he shows below to set up Dembele in the 7-2 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen in October.
Barcola is a threat while dribbling too with a burst of acceleration to zoom past defenders. Playing under Luis Enrique has improved his ability in the half-spaces, while his 3.3 high turnovers per 90 ranked second among all wingers to have played 900 or more minutes in Ligue 1 (behind Doue’s 3.5).
Another high-profile name who could attract interest is Gabriel Martinelli. Like Gordon, the Arsenal winger can stretch teams with his runs in behind, is excellent in transition and always willing to take players on.
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While dangerous when afforded space to run into, Martinelli has struggled against the low blocks that his team have faced over the last three seasons. The 24-year-old is free-flowing when his confidence is high but can frustrate otherwise.
That has been most evident with his finishing. After scoring 15 league goals in 2022-23, the last three seasons have brought 15 in total from 18.3xG, with a conversion rate of 11 per cent and 20 missed big chances (from 32).
That said, a move to a club that deploys a more expansive offensive style could bring the best out of him.
Another player who can frustrate at times but possesses incredible potential is Real Betis’ Abde Ezzalzouli. The 24-year-old boasts explosive pace and dribbling ability, while his balance and physique actively contributes to him flying past defenders.
Like Diomande, one of Ezzalzouli’s big strengths is the pace he generates from a standstill. In the lead-up to this goal against Real Sociedad, he falls to the floor, gets back up and still outpaces and outmuscles his defender before lashing the ball home.
The improvement in Ezzalzouli’s end product has been for all to see. After scoring eight goals in his first 98 La Liga games between 2022 and 2025, he scored 10 in 29 for Betis last season, nearly tripling his conversion rate from the previous four seasons (five to 14 per cent).
That composure has extended to his creativity too. All of his best qualities are on show for the assist below against Panathinaikos in the Europa League, where Ezzalzouli bides his time, springs in behind and draws players to him in the box before setting up Antony.
Antony with a brilliant celebration after scoring for Betis
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 19, 2026
Moving from Spain back to Germany, Stuttgart’s Jamie Leweling offers a slightly different profile to the others on this list.
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The 25-year-old ranked third among all Bundesliga players (minimum 900 minutes played) for open-play crosses with 4.6 per 90. Leweling has variety, creating through pacy, whipped deliveries, floated crosses and cutbacks with either feet from either flank as seen below.
Outside of his crosses, Leweling favours short pass-and-move sequences. He has an eye for goal too, scoring 10 times in 43 matches across the Bundesliga and Europa League in 2025-26. Those goals came from just 6.5xG and included some spectacular strikes from distance too.
And staying in the Bundesliga, FC Koln’s Said El Mala is another exciting prospect on the left wing. The Athletic reported this week that Brentford have submitted a bid for him already.
The 19-year-old is direct when carrying the ball in space, hustling past defenders like he does below to score against St. Pauli…
… but is also excellent at getting it to stick in tight spots. Across Europe’s top five leagues, only Kylian Mbappe (14) attempted more shots after a take-on in the box than his 13. Only Diomande (six) scored more goals from those shots than his three.
El Mala is a physical presence at 6ft 1in (185cm) and like many others on this list, can play multiple positions across the frontline though he does his best work from the left. There have been concerns about his work out of possession, but those can be ironed out by the right coach and environment.