Chelsea weigh late Rashford move as United eye Balde for £38.5m

Chelsea are weighing a late move for Marcus Rashford, according to The Independent, as Manchester United’s transfer window enters its final days following a 2-0 Premier League opening defeat to Hull City at MKM Stadium.

Any Chelsea approach for Rashford would depend on the club first completing a number of outgoing deals, with Nicolas Jackson among those linked with an exit. It would not be the first time Chelsea have moved for a United wide forward — Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho both spent time at Stamford Bridge in recent seasons, though neither deal resulted in a permanent transfer. Rashford himself has spent the last season and a half on loan, returning to Old Trafford in pre-season. His second-half appearance at Hull was his first competitive outing for United since December 2024.

On the incomings front, United have already confirmed the signing of Carlos Baleba from Brighton, with the Cameroonian midfielder — left out of the Seagulls’ opening-day squad against Aston Villa — penning a deal until the summer of 2031. That arrival, alongside earlier business involving Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, forms the backbone of United’s summer rebuild under manager Michael Carrick.

However, the left-back position remains an area of focus. United have been quoted approximately £38.5m for Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde, per The Athletic, with a loan arrangement also a possibility if all parties agree. Balde was absent from Barcelona’s squad for their weekend fixture against Elche, with manager Hansi Flick publicly acknowledging the uncertainty around the player’s situation. “I spoke with Balde this morning and told him that I think he’s not here at 100 per cent, clear your mind and then we’ll talk,” Flick said.

Balde is one of several left-back options United are monitoring. Racing Santander’s Jorge Salinas has also been mentioned in connection with a move, while a deal for Newcastle’s Lewis Hall appears to have been ruled out for now.

Carrick’s side face another newly promoted opponent in Ipswich Town in their next league fixture, with the manager hopeful of welcoming back players from injury ahead of that game.