Athletic Club Bilbao shocked everyone on Friday when they announced Nico Williams had signed an extension with the Basque club which means his contract now lasts until 2035.
In addition, the 22-year-old was also the subject of a 50% rise in his buyout clause. All this, of course, ruined Barcelona’s chances of signing the Spain international.
That sees Barcelona looking towards alternatives, and for months Luis Diaz and Marcus Rashford have been reported as those options. The Liverpool and Manchester United players are both thought to be keen on a move to the Blaugrana, especially the latter.
Rashford’s desire for the move has been repeatedly reported in recent months, and that’s the case again today. Saturday’s edition of [Mundo Deportivo](http://mundodeportivo.com) reports that whilst Diaz is Plan A, Rashford is very much Plan B.
It’s thought the player could arrive on loan from Manchester United. The Red Devils are said to want a permanent transfer at £40m, although Mundo Deportivo don’t think there’s any chance of that, especially after the club took his No.1o shirt away.
A loan is thought to be possible, and Rashford would reduce his wages to secure it.
The Catalan newspaper also make it clear they’re not going to invest big on Rashford precisely because of the negativity surrounding him at Manchester United: _‘Of course, Barça is aware that if Manchester United doesn’t want Rashford, it’s because there are a number of situations that haven’t left him in the approval of their managers, so there’s also a certain degree of caution regarding him. In other words, despite his enormous technical quality, they’re not going to go crazy trying to sign him. It will depend on how the Luis Díaz case develops and whether Rashford makes it easier to finalise his transfer.’_
Saturday’s edition of [Sport](http://sport.es) talks about Barcelona being somewhat dropped in it by Nico Williams signing that contract after they’d so publicly pursued him. Clubs know they want an attacker and have a chunk of money for one.
Sport believe that Rashford will do anything to get a move to Barcelona, and it’s thought Manchester United will agree a loan with an option to buy should it really be pushed for. They want a permanent sale, but that’s looking unlikely at the figures mentioned, and therefore a ‘quick and clean’ deal could be on the cards so Ruben Amorim’s side can move on.
As it stands, Barcelona haven’t entirely decided which player they’re going for.