Rashford faces Man Utd showdown talks after Barcelona deal collapses and rivals blocked

Marcus Rashford will return to Manchester United for showdown talks with club bosses following the World Cup, after his hopes of a permanent move to Barcelona collapsed and rival Premier League clubs were blocked from pursuing him.

Barcelona chose not to sign Rashford permanently, instead completing a £70m deal for Anthony Gordon. United have also refused to sanction a second season-long loan at the Nou Camp, leaving the 28-year-old’s future unresolved as he prepares for England’s opening World Cup fixture against Croatia in Dallas.

United have placed a £40m valuation on Rashford — significantly more than the £24m option Barcelona held to sign him permanently — and have made clear they will not accept anything less. That £16m gap proved insurmountable in negotiations with the Spanish club.

Despite a managerial change at Old Trafford, with Michael Carrick replacing Ruben Amorim last season, Rashford is understood to believe his long-term future lies away from the club. He has little interest in returning to United on a permanent basis and is keen to secure a fresh start, ideally at another European club.

United have, however, moved to close off domestic options. The club have blocked approaches from both Manchester City and Liverpool, who had previously shown interest, while Arsenal are reported to have cooled on a potential move.

Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe remains intent on selling Rashford and removing his £325,000-a-week wages from the club’s books. With Rashford entering the final stages of his contract, this summer is seen internally as the best opportunity to secure a fee, rather than risk him reaching the final 12 months of his deal next June.

United have continued to plan their squad without Rashford, with Carrick targeting summer additions that appear to leave no room for the forward. Unless a European club meets United’s asking price, Rashford is expected to report back to his parent club after his international commitments conclude.