Manchester United could use Marcus Rashford as a bargaining chip in their pursuit of Roma midfielder Manu Kone. The Red Devils are keen to bolster their midfield and the Frenchman has emerged as a firm target, but United have refused to match Roma's £51 million valuation.
Swap deal proposal
Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy suggest that Rashford could serve as a viable makeweight to seal an agreement. Kone looks set to depart the Stadio Olimpico this summer as Roma seek to fund their own recruitment and comply with Financial Fair Play requirements. Roma have received multiple approaches for Kone, but neither United nor Al Ahli have been persuaded by the asking price.
It is claimed that Michael Carrick's side could exploit Roma's eagerness to bring in a left-sided forward to drive down Kone's price tag. However, the England international's wage demands would pose a significant challenge for the Italian club. They would need United to cover a considerable proportion of Rashford's salary as part of any loan arrangement.
Rashford's uncertain future
United's hierarchy would favour a permanent departure for Rashford following loan spells at Barcelona and Aston Villa that failed to result in a lasting move. Even an impressive period at Camp Nou was not enough to secure a permanent deal. Barcelona chose not to sign Rashford permanently despite holding an option to buy for £26 million, instead turning to Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United.
No club has yet matched United's valuation of Rashford, while reports indicate the academy product rejected a switch to Turkey. For now, Rashford appears destined to return to Old Trafford. The forward has not pulled on a United shirt since December 2024, yet still has two years remaining on his deal.
Financial implications and Carrick's stance
A clause that would have allowed him to depart for £40 million — to any club outside Liverpool or Manchester City — has since expired. Rashford remains United's top earner, commanding £325,000 per week and representing a sizeable portion of the club's wage bill. While the board will be keen to offload that financial weight, Michael Carrick suggested at the end of last season that he was not opposed to the forward remaining.
“Whoever’s here, I want to work with, and help them improve,” Carrick said. “At the moment, it’s this squad of players. There’s obviously players on loan, and whatever happens with that later on will happen. But certainly, as a coach, and leader of a squad, we want to get the best out of everyone.”
