Barcelona have received a major transfer boost in the race to sign Manchester United star Marcus Rashford this summer.
Rashford is expected to move on from Manchester in the coming months after impressing during his six-month loan spell at Aston Villa with Unai Emery’s team battling for a UEFA Champions League spot.
Emery has hit pause on his own interest on Rashford, as he prefers to wait until the end of the season before making a decision over whether to retain the England international.
That indecision could play into Barcelona’s hands but there are long standing financial roadblocks also in the way.
Man United set Rashford price to Barcelona
United have indicated there is no agreement in place to give Villa first refusal on a deal for Rashford, and their asking price will be £40m.
That price is the same as Villa’s current purchase option on Rashford, but it is not an exclusive clause, and other clubs can enter the race.
it falls within Barcelona’s price range, but due to the adherence to the 1:1 transfer rule, Hansi Flick will need to sell players before making a potential offer.
Rashford makes the first move in Barca talks
Barcelona have been hoping for a breakthrough in talks, to get ahead of Villa, and reports from Mundo Deportivo indicate they have landed one.
Rashford’s current United wage is rumoured to be around £315,000 per week which Barcelona simply will not pay.
Villa are covering around 75% of his wages as part of their loan agreement with United topping up the remainder of it.
Any move to Catalonia would require a reduction and Rashford is rumoured to be ready to cut his wages significantly to seal a move.
That is an important step, but Barcelona are also considering a loan bid, with a clause to buy him at the end of the 2025/26 season. Depending on whether United can make it into the Champions League via the Europa League final, that could impact their asking price too. Find out how to get tickets to the main event in Bilbao here.
Personally I believe he would prefer to stay at Villa and if these articles are to be believed and it a big if regarding a wage cut then I think Emery will sign him, too much garbage speculation going on now as the end of season gets closer I think maybe 1% of it can be believed the rest is one big joke but hey it keeps the journos who have nothing better to do happy.
A final comment we have done well without Rashford whilst he’s been injured so it’s no big deal one way or the other