Barcelona are pushing to keep Marcus Rashford on loan for another season rather than trigger the £26 million permanent transfer clause in his current deal, according to reports. The Manchester United forward has impressed during his season-long spell at the Camp Nou, registering 13 goals and 13 assists in 45 appearances.
Manchester United are understood to be unwilling to accept a second loan or reduce the fee, leaving Barcelona with the choice of paying the full amount or letting the 28-year-old leave. Sky Germany reports that the Catalan club are attempting to renegotiate the terms, but United are standing firm.
Rashford has stated his desire to stay at Barcelona, and club president Joan Laporta has praised his performances, saying: 'Marcus is performing very well with assists and goals. We will try, in Barca's interest, to ensure that Marcus can continue.' However, the Spanish side's financial constraints may force them to seek alternative arrangements.
Should a permanent move to Barcelona fall through, Rashford could return to Manchester United, where new manager Michael Carrick has hinted that a decision on his future is yet to be made. Carrick said: 'There's decisions to be made on certain things, and obviously Marcus is in that situation. But at this point in time, nothing's been decided.'
If Rashford is put on the market, United are reportedly confident of securing a fee in the region of £50 million, with interest from Juventus, Newcastle United, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. A strong performance at the upcoming World Cup could further boost his value.
