Marcus Rashford scored twice against Newcastle United last nightplaceholder image
Marcus Rashford scored twice against Newcastle United last night | Getty Images
Man United have a few areas that they need to upgrade in the summer and Barcelona have offered them a head start.
Manchester United hold all the cards when it comes to any negotiations involving Barcelona and Marcus Rashford.
The £26m option to buy clause is massively under market value and the 28-year old has proven the doubters wrong with an outstanding season at the La Liga giants. It would be a surprise if he hasn’t done enough to force his way back into Thomas Tuchel’s England plans with Michael Carrick wanting the winger back at Old Trafford, if he lands the manager’s job on a permanent basis.
Man United offered Marcus Rashford swap deal
The problem, as it has been since the loan to Barcelona was agreed, is that the Spaniards simply can’t afford to pay the transfer fee. They continue to be hamstrung by financial difficulties and short term financial arrangements that have seen them living from season to season. Rashford has been told what Barca want to do, however, it isn’t as simple as that and United will need to be persuaded to part ways with a key asset.
One way that United could benefit is if a report in TEAMtalk is accurate where it is claimed that talks have already taken place over a possible swap deal. The report suggests that ‘the first name they’ve put forward is Ronald Araujo’ and that Barcelona ‘would be content with a simple player swap’ for Rashford. Araujo has captained the Catalans for some time, however, he has also spent time away from the limelight this season due to struggles with his mental health.
Barcelona are also ‘willing to do without’ Marc Casado and ‘would include’ the Spaniard as part of any deal that saw Rashford swap Old Trafford for the Nou Camp. United are said to have shown an interest in Casado in the past and might well consider the offer.
United eye a new left-back
Rashford’s saga isn’t the only transfer speculation with a new left-back attracting the eye of the United scouting team. Having already been linked with Denzel Dumfries, Inter Milan’s left wing-back Federico di Marco is now reported to be on the recruitment team’s radar.
United’s current senior options at left-back are Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu, with Tyrell Malacia out in the cold and being told that he can leave in the last two transfer windows. The emergence of Dorgu under Carrick as a winger means that Shaw is the only out and out left-back now.
The 28-year old is playing in a slightly more advanced position but his is still contributing the sort of numbers that would make him an astute signing. With five goals and 13 assists in just 22 games in the league, Di Marco could be the perfect player to keep Shaw on his toes.
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