Barcelona weigh second Rashford loan as Manchester United hold firm on £26m minimum

Barcelona are weighing a return bid for Marcus Rashford this summer, but face a firm obstacle: Manchester United will not accept another loan arrangement or a fee below the £26 million buy-option written into his initial switch to Camp Nou.

Rashford, 28, impressed during his loan spell with the La Liga champions last season and appeared on course for a permanent move until Barcelona instead spent £69 million to sign his England teammate Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United. Despite that outlay, the Spanish club have not closed the door on Rashford and could yet test United’s stated position, according to the Daily Mail.

United’s reluctance to let him go cheaply is partly financial. Rashford earns £315,000 a week, and the club are actively restructuring their wage bill. Selling him outright would remove that burden in a way a loan cannot. The feeling within both camps, per the same report, is that a permanent departure remains the most likely outcome — the question is where and at what price.

Domestic interest also exists. Arsenal, Aston Villa and Tottenham have all been monitoring Rashford’s situation, with Spurs in particular demonstrating their willingness to compete on wages after beating United to the signing of West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes.

Meanwhile, United’s own recruitment efforts are focused on the left-wing position Rashford vacated. Aurelien Tchouameni, Tyler Adams, Alex Scott and Felix Nmecha have been linked as midfield options, though top target Elliot Anderson has joined Manchester City. Nmecha, whose club Borussia Dortmund are also being tracked by Newcastle United as a Sandro Tonali replacement, was part of a Germany side knocked out of the World Cup by Paraguay.

Rashford himself is still at the tournament with England, having started their round-of-32 win over DR Congo before being replaced by Gordon, who assisted both of Harry Kane’s goals in the comeback victory.