Rashford's £40m release clause bars Liverpool and City but opens door to Premier League return

Marcus Rashford is available for £40 million this summer after Barcelona declined to exercise their option to sign him permanently, with his Manchester United contract containing a release clause open to all clubs except Liverpool and Manchester City.

The Spanish champions had the right to sign Rashford for a cut-price £26m following his loan spell at the Nou Camp last season, but have instead moved to sign his England team-mate Anthony Gordon in a deal worth £70m. That decision leaves Rashford effectively back on the market at a higher asking price.

Rashford, currently representing England at the World Cup, contributed 28 goals and assists for Barcelona during his loan stint. His United contract still has two years to run, and The Athletic report that several Premier League clubs have already expressed interest in the 28-year-old forward.

However, the same report makes clear that if Rashford does return to English football, it would only be with Manchester United — not a rival Premier League club. The restriction on Liverpool and City in his release clause underlines the limits of where he can move domestically.

Should Rashford depart Old Trafford permanently, Manchester United are monitoring West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville as a potential replacement. The Dutch international has attracted attention following West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League and impressed at the World Cup, scoring in the Netherlands’ 2-2 draw with Japan.

Despite West Ham’s vulnerability to losing key players after dropping to the Championship, Summerville is expected to command a fee of around £50m — a figure that could complicate any deal. United’s primary transfer focus this window remains their midfield, with West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes identified as a top target.