Manchester United are poised to restart talks with Barcelona over Marcus Rashford as soon as next week, with the Spanish giants eager to arrange another loan switch. While the forward has shone during his stint at the Camp Nou, club hierarchy and fans remain split over making the move permanent.
Rashford, 28, joined Barca on loan from United last summer and has registered 14 goals and 14 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions. Last Sunday, the England international bent in a stunning free-kick to help Barca defeat Real Madrid 2-0 and seal the La Liga title.
Afterwards, Rashford disclosed he would like to prolong his time at the club, though he conceded he is uncertain what will unfold this summer. “I’m not a magician, but if I was, I would stay [at Barcelona],” he said. “We will see. I came here to win. This is a wonderful team, they’re going to win so much in the future; to be a part of that would be special.”
However, Mirror Sport understands United have no desire to sanction another loan, with the club eager to strip Rashford’s considerable wages from their books. United are expected to rebuff Barcelona’s efforts to extend the loan and remain firm on the agreed transfer fee - meaning Hansi Flick’s side must pay £26m or risk losing the forward altogether.
Barca are actively searching for a new left winger and have pinpointed several targets alongside Rashford, with club director Deco and manager Flick reportedly not fully sold on the England international and weighing up their alternatives.
