Manchester United will look to reach a transfer agreement over Marcus Rashford before the end of the season, but whether the Spanish champions will pay the demanded fee remains to be seen
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford is eager to stay at Barcelona beyond the summer(Image: Getty Images)
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Barcelona have reportedly held talks with Manchester United to assess their options for signing Marcus Rashford on a permanent deal this summer. The 28‑year‑old's loan spell is nearing its end, and the Spanish club are keen to make the move permanent - but there's a catch.
According to talkSPORT, Barcelona are reluctant to activate Rashford's €30million (£26m) buy clause and instead, hope to negotiate a lower fee. It's said that a second loan, potentially with a conditional obligation, has also been discussed as an alternative.
Further discussions are expected to take place closer to the end of the season as both clubs look to find a solution. United are keen to cash in on Rashford and believe the clause is reasonable, while Barcelona hold the advantage of the winger's desire to remain at Camp Nou.
While he may yet get his wish, the La Liga giants are hoping to negotiate a more favourable financial deal before committing to the current buy option. Should an agreement be reached, Rashford would reportedly be offered a contract running until the summer of 2029.
The England international, 28, is expected to take on a bigger role in Catalonia next season if a deal can be reached, especially with Robert Lewandowski, who turns 38 in August, out of contract at the end of the campaign.
Rashford has already made it clear that he wants to remain at the club beyond his loan.
"Of course what I want is to stay at Barca," Rashford said. "It's an end goal, but it's not the reason why I'm training hard and giving it my best.
"The purpose is to win. Barca is a huge, fantastic club, built to win titles."
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford won the Spanish Super Cup with Barcelona(Image: )
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Meanwhile, European football expert Andy Brassell has suggested that Rashford is currently the 'most sensible' financial deal available.
"He's maybe the cheapest financial deal out there," he observed. "They may even loan him for an extra year. He's taken a fair hit on his wages and if United are keen on moving him on permanently and if something can be worked out.
"It feels like one of the best deals out there for Barcelona because they know he works there already. There's not as much risk as there would be buying a player fresh.
"I think if they go out there and try and buy someone of Marcus Rashford's quality on the open market, it's going to be a heck of a lot more expensive. We've got to bear in mind as well that next season, they'll probably, almost certainly, have Robert Lewandowski's wages off the books."
Rashford has made a strong impact since joining Barcelona, producing seven goals and 11 assists in 27 appearances. However, he has slipped in and out of the starting XI in recent weeks, with Raphinha preferred on the left‑hand side.
On Sunday, Rashford celebrated his first trophy with his teammates as the Catalan giants secured a 3–2 victory over Real Madrid in the Supercopa final in Jeddah.