Rashford keen on permanent Barcelona move but £26m fee clause threatens to derail deal

Marcus Rashford is eager to make his Barcelona loan move permanent, but a standoff over the £26 million purchase option in his agreement threatens to leave the 28-year-old’s future unresolved before the June 15 deadline.

Rashford, who spent the season on loan at the La Liga champions, has already indicated he would accept half his current £325,000-a-week wage to stay at the club — a salary that no longer fits Manchester United’s pay structure under Ineos. Despite that willingness to compromise, Barcelona are pushing to negotiate a lower fee than the fixed option, or to arrange a second loan spell. United have so far rejected both alternatives.

The forward’s enthusiasm for the club has been evident off the pitch too. New Barcelona signing Anthony Gordon revealed that Rashford gave him a glowing account of life at the club and even offered advice on where to live in the city. “He was just telling me how good the lads are there, the team spirit that they have, which I heard already from the people in Barca,” Gordon said, describing Rashford as “very caring.”

The positional overlap between the two players adds a complication. Both Rashford and Gordon prefer to operate on the left side of attack, and Gordon’s arrival from Newcastle could reduce the space available for Rashford in Hansi Flick’s squad — a factor that may influence Barcelona’s willingness to meet United’s asking price.

On the pitch, Rashford’s loan season was a considerable success. He scored 14 goals and registered 14 assists across domestic and Champions League competition, form that has attracted reported interest from Bayern Munich and Arsenal.

With the option expiry date approaching, United face a strategic decision: hold firm on the £26m valuation and risk losing Rashford for nothing or a reduced fee, or soften their stance. Old Trafford’s hierarchy is also weighing whether the 2026 World Cup could serve as a showcase to drive up his market value — provided he performs well in the tournament.