Newcastle United are eyeing a surprise move to sign Man Utd star Marcus Rashford this summer as a replacement for Anthony Gordon, according to iNews.

The Magpies are planning a major squad rebuild this summer after a poor campaign in the Premier League saw them finish 12th, missing out on European football entirely, and now forced to sell players to raise funds.

Gordon was the first to move on, joining Barcelona in a £70m deal, and now Eddie Howe is scouring the market to find a replacement and is looking at a familiar face.

Newcastle Eyeing Rashford Move

Rashford, who has been described as ‘frightening’ by Ollie Watkins, spent last season at Barcelona on loan and enjoyed a fine campaign, scoring 14 goals and registering 11 assists in all competitions as they won the Spanish league title.

But while the England star had an option in his deal to make it permanent, they are yet to trigger it, and have instead prioritisted deals for other forwards, with Gordon already arriving and a bid made for Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez.

That has sparked major question marks over Rashford’s future, and Newcastle are ready to make a move to bring him to St James’ Park in an ironic twist.

Man Utd are desperate to get his £325,000-a-week wages off their books, and despite Newcastle having a different transfer policy, it’s understood that they could look to bring the 28-year-old in as a direct replacement for Gordon.

A season-long loan move away has not been ruled out, with no offers on the table, although the Red Devils are expected to push for a permanent move instead.

Rashford to Newcastle Would Be Interesting Deal

Newcastle have made a habit of signing younger players who are ready to step up and explode at a higher level, while having room to improve. They did it with Gordon, Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, and more in recent years.

But a deal for a player like Rashford, who has incredible experience at the highest level and is still performing to a very high standard, isn’t one that comes around every day, and the Magpies would be crazy not to consider it at least.

Whether he’s open to it or not is yet to be known, but Howe would love his direct running, finishing and skill set as part of his squad, and this is one to watch as the summer goes on.

The World Cup is one of the greatest competitions in the world, with players dreaming of walking onto the pitch as mere athletes but walking off it as legends. Every four years, the best players around the globe put all their energy into trying to claim glory with their country, determined to cement their place in history in the process. However, all of that would not be possible without the main competition ball, which becomes a key element of every single tournament.

Adidas have made every World Cup ball since 1970, and they will continue to do so until the 2030 tournament at the earliest. The German company has enjoyed a powerful monopoly over every other designer in one of the hardest competitions in the world, eliminating any rivalry to inspire improvement. However, they still produced some stunning World Cup balls.

It’s important to remember that technology has drastically changed since the first tournament in 1930. Balls are lighter, quicker and easier to use now compared to the middle of the 1900s, so technology should be considered in relation to the era it was in. Here are the greatest balls ever to grace the world stage.

Ranking Factors

• Appearance – It’s arguably the most important thing. If the football looks stunning, it’s going to rank near the top.
• Features – How light it is, whether it curves and how it strikes are all important to a football.
• Nostalgia – Naturally, if there are iconic memories of the ball in use, it’s always remembered more fondly.

10

Adidas Telstar

1970 World Cup

Brazil claimed international glory with one of the greatest international teams of all time in 1970. As Pele and some of the greatest players of all time plied their trade with elegance across the pitch, the ball stood out from previous tournaments.

The stunning design was the first black and white one to be used at a World Cup, featuring 32 panels stitched into one another. The ball was made of leather, whilst its polyurethane coating provided waterproofing as well as protection from damage such as scuffs and tears. With a simplicity that is not particularly common in the modern day, the Adidas Telstar had to feature on this list.

9

Adidas Jabulani

2010 World Cup

The Adidas Jabulani is the most famous ball of all time — but for all the wrong reasons. It looked stunning and epitomised the importance of African representation on the world stage, but within the ball, the technology caused plenty of issues. With eight panels stitched together, it was slated by players who couldn’t get used to how the ball would fly.

The surface of the ball was textured with grooves, a technology developed by Adidas called “Grip ‘n’ Groove”, that was intended to improve the ball’s aerodynamics, but that just was not the case. Despite the negatives, it is still talked about more than any other World Cup ball. No one will ever forget it – which is more than can be said for most footballs.

8

Adidas Azteca

1986 World Cup

The Adidas Azteca ball for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico had a beautiful design. The elaborately decorated pattern was inspired by the host nation’s native Aztec architecture and murals. With its unique design, it’s always held a place in history; Mexico is a nation full of history — and the ball showcased that.

In the tournament, Diego Maradona, one of the greatest players in Argentina’s history, scored two of the most iconic goals in World Cup history with this ball. Four minutes after delivering what he would brilliantly describe as the ‘Hand of God’, Maradona weaved past half of England’s outfielders and prodded his second goal of the afternoon beyond Peter Shilton. The ball that was under the spell of the small magician scored attracted bids of £2m during an auction in 2022, showcasing the history it holds.

7

Adidas Al Rihla

2022 World Cup

The World Cup in 2022 was a competition of firsts. Taking place in the Northern Hemisphere’s winter and in the Middle East, it will forever be remembered, whilst on the pitch, the Adidas Al Rihla did the talking. Not only did it look vibrant with flashes of red, yellow and blue across the ball, it had technology throughout which made it the most advanced ball ever.

There was a new suspension system in the centre of the ball, which might sound crazy, but it helped provide unprecedented insight. It enabled the video match officials to review live data for the first time by automatically providing very accurate information, 500 times per second, on when a player had touched the ball. The 2022 World Cup is always well remembered for a lack of controversial decisions; there’s no doubt the ball helped with that.

6

Adidas Trionda

2026 World Cup

The 2026 World Cup is set to be the biggest such tournament in history and it has a ball to match, with a highly colourful design and technologically advanced product (this one needs to be charged!) released by Adidas. The Trionda combines colours representing the three host nations: green for Mexico, red for Canada and blue for the United States. On design alone it occupies a relatively high position on this list, but, though it has been used without incident in pre-tournament warm-up games, we will have to see how it plays during the tournament to get a fuller appreciation.

5

Slazenger Challenge 4-star

1966 World Cup

In England, the 1966 World Cup is cemented in history as the year football came home. The host nation completed a memorable tournament by beating West Germany 4-2 in the final — and the ball used for it is naturally iconic.

As the only non-Adidas ball on this list, the orange orb, which was often brown during matches, stood out from the crowd. As a vintage ball, it was heavy and hard to use, but that was always the case in the 1960s. It was the only World Cup football Slazenger ever made, but they could not have chosen a better tournament.

4

Adidas Brazuca

2014 World Cup

In 2014, the world’s eyes were glued to Brazil. As a festival of football took place with action from the white beaches of Rio to the depths of the Amazon rainforest, the Adidas Brazuca encapsulated that excitement in a ball. With flashes of green, blue and orange combining throughout, it stood out on the pitch, with some of the best attackers in the world heavily praising its qualities. Even the US space agency NASA delivered its seal of approval after testing the Brazuca’s aerodynamic qualities.

The ball was made of six polyurethane panels which were thermally bonded; the reduction in the number of panels helped to increase the consistency of the ball, whilst avoiding the aerodynamic problems the Jabulani ball had in the previous tournament. As a lightweight option, it was a beauty to play with.

3

Adidas Fevernova

2002 World Cup

In 2002, Brazil once again tasted World Cup glory. Taking place in Japan and South Korea, the pressure was on the South American nation to deliver, but they did so with ease. As part of this, the legendary footballing team did their talking with the Adidas Fevernova at their feet.

It was the first World Cup ball with a triangular design, featuring patterns of gold and red across it. The ball was composed of 11 layers and was 3mm thick, including a special foam layer with a gas-filled balloon embedded in a syntactic foam. The outer cover was made from a combination of polyurethane and rubber. Unsurprisingly, this meant it was lightweight, causing problems for goalkeepers throughout the tournament.

2

Adidas Tricolore

1998 World Cup

As France conquered the world on home soil in 1998, the world was fixated on the nation. Zinedine Zidane, one of the greatest midfielders of all time, was plying his trade in the middle of the park, treating the Adidas Tricolore ball as if it was an extension of his long limbs.

It was decorated with cockerel motifs and was adopted to represent the colours of the French flag. Remarkably, it was the first multi-coloured ball used at a World Cup. With its striking design, everyone loved it, whilst the technology of the ball had no major flaws at all.

1

Adidas Teamgeist

2006 World Cup

The 2006 World Cup ball, the Adidas Teamgeist, has been ranked as the greatest World Cup ball of all time. With its simple yet effective design pattern, it did not stand out from the crowd, but technology made a difference. Acting as a breakthrough into the 21st century, the ball differed from the ones of previous tournaments.

It had just 14 curved panels, rather than the 32 that have been standard since 1970. The panels were bonded together, rather than stitched. As a lightweight ball, it caused chaos for goalkeepers, as the likes of Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole and Philipp Lahm all scored long-range screamers with it.

Manchester United fans have long been disillusioned with the Glazer family and their reign over the club. But, in truth, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory after taking over the majority shares in 2024.

Cost-cutting measures bordered on dystopian, trimming the fat so aggressively it began to cut into the bone, with the Red Devils enduing their worst-ever Premier League campaign – capped off by a Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.

While things have improved this season – only after INEOS replaced the hapless Ruben Amorim with Michael Carrick – the question remains: would The Nine Two Foundation, backed by Sheikh Jassim, have provided a steadier hand at the wheel of the club’s ambitious rebuild?

According to the Daily Mail, Jassim already had a shortlist of 10 players ready to bring to Old Trafford before his £5 billion takeover bid was halted in its tracks by Ratcliffe and the INEOS entourage. And with the Glazer family now considering selling their stake in Manchester United, according to reports, let’s look at the players who could have ended up at the Theatre of Dreams under Qatari ownership.

Harry Kane

Bayern Munich

The English all-time top goalscorer was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford three summers ago, even with the Glazers in situ. Yet, it never felt like a concrete possibility with the sums of money Tottenham would likely demand to sell a star player to a Premier League rival.

Kane, instead, chose to sign for German heavyweights Bayern Munich. The result, three years on, is 147 appearances across all competitions, 146 goals, 22 assists, not to mention two Bundesliga titles. One of the most complete forwards in world football, Kane is exactly the type of player United were crying out for.

Kim Min-Jae

Bayern Munich

Another player lost to Bayern Munich three seasons ago was South Korean defender Kim Min-Jae, who left Serie A champions Napoli for a new challenge – coinciding with Kane’s move to Germany. A powerful presence at the back with strong on-the-ball skills, Kim would have made an excellent partner alongside the likes of Lisandro Martinez.

However, the Red Devils opted for alternatives like Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt. While not terrible signings, they’ve been unremarkable at best. It’s easy to wonder if Kim, who has been a rock in Bayern’s defence over the past three seasons, might have been a more fitting addition, especially since his skillset seems to take the best from both United’s alternatives – Yoro’s speed and possession qualities, and De Ligt’s strength and aerial superiority – and combine them.

Adrien Rabiot

AC Milan

The Red Devils have a serious habit of hitting the panic button without fully considering bolder, long-term solutions. This was especially clear in their decision to sign Sofyan Amrabat on loan for the 2023-24 season. While he performed well as Morocco’s defensive midfielder during their impressive World Cup semi-final run, Adrien Rabiot was available as a free agent and boasted a much more experienced CV.

At the time, money didn’t seem to be a major concern for the club – otherwise, they might have taken more time to make a smarter choice and signed then-Juventus midfielder Rabiot, who has since become a smooth operator in AC Milan’s midfield since leaving Marseille. He could have been a far better solution than the £350,000-per-week gamble on Casemiro, too.

Alexis Mac Allister

Liverpool

One of the best midfielders in the world right now, Alexis Mac Allister has been the tempo-setter in Liverpool’s engine room since his move from Brighton three summers ago. At just 27 years old, he could retire a proud man, having won the World Cup, Copa America, and the Premier League, establishing himself as one of the Reds’ most important players.

A traditional number 8, equally skilled at snuffing out danger, spraying precise passes, and scoring wonder goals, the Argentine is the epitome of a game-changer. There’s no doubt he could have turned around some of United’s fortunes single-handedly, had Jassim taken over the club and signed Mac Allister for the £35 million their fiercest rivals paid – a fee that now looks like daylight robbery.

Ronald Araujo

Barcelona

A versatile, athletic defender who can play both at centre-back and right-back, Ronald Araujo would have been a perfect addition to a three-at-the-back system that Ruben Amorim favoured.

The 27-year-old, who has been a regular for Uruguay in recent years, possesses all the attributes required to succeed in the Premier League. While there are more talented footballers on this list, Sheikh Jassim’s move for Araujo would still have been a shrewd bit of business.

Frenkie de Jong

Barcelona

Long tipped to reunite with former boss Erik ten Hag, Frenkie de Jong never made his way to Old Trafford – likely because Camp Nou has remained a more reliable route to silverware.

Back in 2020, Lionel Messi described De Jong as “one of the most accomplished passers I have ever seen for his age.” Injuries have disrupted his recent seasons, but when fit, he’s as assured and decisive as anyone else in his position. There’s a reason his most famous former teammate tipped him for greatness.

Victor Osimhen

Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen’s potential has been well-known since he joined Lille in 2019, but it wasn’t until 2022 that the world truly saw the full extent of the relentless Nigerian’s talent. Standing tall, with speed, aerial dominance, and clinical finishing, Osimhen scored nearly every type of goal imaginable throughout his Napoli career, leading them to the Serie A title in 2023 with 26 goals in 32 league matches.

At 27, Osinhem remains one of the world’s top strikers. While various top European clubs have been linked with a move for the prolific strikers in recent years, he seems content scoring goals most weeks in the Turkish top flight for now.

Dusan Vlahovic

Juventus

Dusan Vlahovic was another striker on Sheikh Jassim’s radar. The Serbian isn’t as prolific as Ominhem but may have still been a better option than Rasmus Hojlund, who never found his feet in England.

With 68 goals and 16 assists in 168 appearances for Juventus, the only real gamble for United would have been whether his form in the Mediterranean heat could translate to the physical demands and rainy skies of England. Just ask Joshua Zirkzee – shining in Serie A doesn’t always guarantee success in the Premier League.

Kingsley Coman

Al-Nassr

Al-Nassr’s rapid winger was one of two left-sided options on Sheikh Jassim’s wishlist – though Kingsley Coman is equally comfortable operating on the right. The Frenchman was a key figure during his spell with Bayern Munich and, incredibly, had won a league title in every single season of his senior career until 2023-24, when Bayer Leverkusen finally dethroned Bayern.

A move to the Theatre of Dreams would likely have jeopardised that remarkable streak even further, with the Red Devils having failed to lift the Premier League trophy since Sir Alex Ferguson’s farewell season back in 2013.

Kvicha Kvaratskhelia

Paris Saint-Germain

A show of their intent and desire to win the biggest honours on offer, PSG went into the January transfer window with a name in mind: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian winger was relentless on the Napoli flank and was touted by sides across Europe – but it was an ambitious PSG side who secured his services, and they lifted their first-ever Champions League title with his help.

Not only is he absolutely rapid, but what he can do with the ball at such speed is what separates him from the rest. Ambidexturous and able to beat perhaps anyone in the beautiful game in a foot race, United are out of luck in their pursuit of the Georgian, as it doesn’t look like anyone can prize him away from the City of Lights while they are playing the way they are under Luis Enrique.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt (correct as of 04/06/2026).