Barcelona plot cut-price Rashford bid as Manchester United face wage dilemma

Barcelona are attempting to sign Marcus Rashford permanently at a significant discount, planning to bid just over half of the £26m purchase option inserted into last summer’s loan agreement with Manchester United, according to reports from Mail Online.

The Catalan club’s calculation is straightforward: United’s pressing need to remove Rashford’s £325,000-a-week salary from their wage bill will, they believe, compel the club to accept a cut-price fee rather than stand firm on the agreed figure. Rashford, who is contracted to United until 2028, has reportedly indicated he would accept close to half his current salary to remain at Camp Nou.

Rashford delivered a productive season in Spain, scoring 14 goals and contributing 14 assists across 49 appearances in all competitions under Hansi Flick. Despite that output, Barcelona’s activity elsewhere in the transfer market has complicated his prospects of a second season at the club. The La Liga champions have already moved for Anthony Gordon and are reportedly pursuing Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez, while Bernardo Silva is also a target on a free transfer from Manchester City — a signing that sources in Spain suggest could effectively end any deal for Rashford.

Rashford is understood to have arranged talks with United as he seeks clarity on his future ahead of England’s World Cup campaign. United, for their part, are reluctant to strengthen a direct Premier League rival but would consider offers at the right price. Arsenal and Tottenham have both been linked with the 28-year-old, and Bayern Munich have emerged as a potential destination after missing out on Gordon.

Former United striker Teddy Sheringham has not ruled out a return to Old Trafford, suggesting the door could be reopened depending on the nature of Rashford’s departure. “Yes, things can turn around,” Sheringham said. “If he did want to come back he could explain his motives over the last couple of years. Did he have a problem with Ruben Amorim? Or does he have a problem with the football club? If he’s got no problem with the club, and it was all due to the previous manager, that’s an issue that can be solved and all can be forgiven — but some of the performances he was putting in during his last season weren’t great. He’d need to turn things around and win people back again.”