Barcelona have made it clear they will not be meeting Manchester United’s £40m asking price for their star player Marcus Rashford, as reports suggest the Catalan giants prefer a loan deal instead.
As United aim to bolster their squad with new signings this summer, they are looking to generate funds, having already secured Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m and welcomed youngster Diego Leon from Cerro Porteno.
A quintet of players, including Rashford, have expressed their intentions to depart Old Trafford before the next season. The transfer sage Fabrizio Romano revealed on platform X last week that Marcus Rashford, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Tyrell Malacia, and Jadon Sancho are all seeking exits, leading to United delaying their return to training to explore solutions.
Romano also shed light on Rashford’s aspirations, with the Man United academy product keen on a move to La Liga’s champions, Barcelona. Romano stated on his YouTube channel: “Marcus Rashford would be very eager to move to Barcelona, an opportunity he’s been open to since January. He’s eagerly awaiting a move to the Catalan club because he has numerous options.”
The situation isn’t solely driven by Rashford’s desire to leave. The management at Manchester United, including head coach Ruben Amorim, are also inclined to part ways with the forward, a sentiment expressed since January into this summer.
Despite Rashford and United’s mutual intent to separate, Spanish reports indicate Barcelona are not prepared to engage in a big-money move. Instead, they view a loan deal as the only feasible route, possibly without the obligation to buy or involving a manageable purchasing option.
Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, is reportedly sceptical about investing £48m in a player deemed inconsistent over the past two seasons, which he views as too risky. Nonetheless, discussions between the two clubs remain ongoing, with Barcelona maintaining their firm stance on a loan-only agreement for a player they’ve long coveted.
Conversely, Manchester United’s current position is to reject any loan offers for Rashford as of now, signalling another twist in this unfolding transfer saga.
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