Manchester United must tread carefully when it comes to deciding Marcus Rashford’s future this summer.
Ineos are moving swiftly when it comes to incomings with Matheus Cunha already confirmed and a second bid submitted for Bryan Mbeumo.
But with the budget quickly depleting, though, United need to make sales but cashing in on the likes of Jadon Sancho, Antony and Marcus Rashford has proven incredibly difficult.
Rashford has been trying to force a Barcelona move all summer after it became clear that Aston Villa would reject his £40m buy option.
Earlier this week, Rashford spoke of playing alongside Lamine Yamal, and it seems his hopes of a Barca move are not over just yet.
Marcus Rashford in training with Manchester United
Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images
Man United must avoid Marcus Rashford loan mistake
Last season, the trio of Antony, Sancho and Rashford all ended up leaving on loan either in the summer or the winter window, yet all three are set to return to Manchester at the end of the month.
Villa chose not to sign Rashford permanently after missing out on Champions League football, while Sancho’s permanent move to Chelsea collapsed as he was unwilling to drop his wages.
It feels inevitable that Ineos will once again find themselves negotiating loan terms this summer for a few players, but they must avoid making their Sancho mistake again.
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When the agreement with Chelsea was struck, fans learned that there was a £25m obligatory buy clause in Sancho’s deal, meaning United thought they had finally seen the last of the 25-year-old winger.
However, Ineos included a £5m penalty fee that allowed Chelsea to back out of the agreement, and now United face the same issue of trying to sell Sancho all over again.
In future deals, a clause such as that must be avoided at all costs.
Barcelona showing interest in Marcus Rashford loan
United are holding firm with their £40m valuation of Rashford this summer, but his heart is set on Barcelona and the Spanish giants seem reluctant to match that asking price.
Barcelona’s interest in Nico Williams dents Rashford’s chances of a move, but it seems he still has an outside chance of securing a move to Camp Nou.
Reports suggest Barcelona are interested in loaning Rashford, but Ineos understandably prefer a permanent deal to try and bring in cash this summer.
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Rashford’s contract expires in 2028 so another loan deal would just see his value continue to fall, leaving United with the same issue next summer.
The only way to avoid a repeat of the current situation is to include an obligatory buy clause – without any conditions or ‘penalty fees’ – but a guaranteed sum of cash next summer.