Marcus Rashford can help Manchester United secure a £40m discount on an obvious priority transfer next summer, as Ruben Amorim tries to strengthen his squad
Marcus Rashford of FC Barcelona
Marcus Rashford of FC Barcelona(Image: Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
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Marcus Rashford is expected to depart Manchester United on a permanent deal next summer. The 27-year-old left the Reds to sign for Barcelona on loan in July and he has impressed since his move to the Catalan club, scoring five goals and providing seven assists in 13 appearances.
The England international may have endured a slow start at Barcelona, but he is in red hot form right now. Indeed, he has either scored or assisted in nine of his last 10 matches. Alongside this, the ex-Aston Villa man is back in Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions squad and in contention for a World Cup spot.
Barcelona have the option to buy Rashford for £28million - a lower fee than the £40m United would seek from any other club. Rashford still has just over two-and-a-half years left on his United contract, but he appears to have no future at Old Trafford after falling out of favour under head coach Ruben Amorim.
There is talk that Barca are contemplating triggering the option to purchase Rashford on a permanent deal and securing his services beyond the end of the season. Should that happen, United would have a £40m discount on sealing an obvious needed transfer next summer.
Along with the £28m United would receive from the option to buy Rashford, the Reds have saved a guaranteed £12m in wages from his loan spell at Barcelona this season. That would give them £40m towards signing a defensive midfielder - a position in which United must target.
The Reds made an attempt to sign Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba in August, but they were effectively priced out of a £100m move, having already spent in excess of £200m on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. And despite Casemiro's up-turn in form, a No.6 is still essential.
Should United go back in for Baleba? It's a deal that should be explored again, but there are a number of other options that could be considered, especially if the club qualify for the Champions League.
Adam Wharton has been linked with a move to Manchester United
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has been linked with a move to Manchester United
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Adam Wharton is the one, right now, that makes the most sense. Although Crystal Palace's approach is a little different to United's, Wharton would still be used to playing in a two-man midfield in a back-three formation.
He is one of the most talented - and best - midfielders in the Premier League at the moment and United should have him as their top target for next summer. Wharton, 21, has 44 top-flight appearances to his belt and would slot straight into the United midfield alongside captain Fernandes, it's safe to say.
Yes, Wharton is valued at around £100m but he would be worth every penny. And Rashford's sale - alongside the wages United have saved this season - would give United a £40m discount on that signing.
Convincing Palace to sell might be the hardest bit for United, however. Speaking earlier this month, Eagles chairman Steve Parish claimed there is no pressure for the club to sell. "Look, I think Adam at some point will want to play, either in the Champions League with us, if we could make that happen, or probably with another club," he said.
"He's an extraordinary talent. I think right now, and I can't speak for Adam, but I think he's focused on his time at Crystal Palace.
"He had a broken season last season with the groin issues that he had, which a lot of young players get. This season he's completely focused on putting the games in, getting in the England squad, being a regular for us. I think he's very committed to the club.
"I mean, if Manchester United want Adam Wharton, that's nothing surprising really. The fact of the matter is he's got a long contract to run. There's no pressure on us to do it and I don't think there's any real pressure from the player either."
Behind Wharton should be Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, with Baleba as No.3. All three players would add some real potential and ready-made Premier League class to the United squad.
United addressed the No.9 and the two No.10 positions in the summer with Sesko, Mbeumo and Cunha coming through the doors, but it does feel as though an elite No.6, centre-back and right-wing back is missing. If United can get them, including Wharton, across the line, they have a potential title-challenging squad.
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