United face two Rashford swap proposals as Barcelona weigh permanent deal

Manchester United are weighing two swap-deal proposals that could determine Marcus Rashford’s future this summer, with the 27-year-old otherwise set to return to Old Trafford after his season-long loan at Barcelona.

The most prominent proposal would send Rashford to AC Milan in exchange for Portuguese winger Rafael Leão, who carries a £131 million release clause. Former United defender Jaap Stam has publicly endorsed the idea, telling ComeOn: “Maybe a swap between Rafael Leao and Marcus Rashford could work. Leao is also a good player. He has shown his potential at Milan, of course, in what he can do. I think he is a player that should be on the list of targets for Man Utd.”

Stam added a note of caution, however: “You need to have a look not only at the skill of a player, but also at the mentality of players. You need to consider the situation where the club is, what player they are bringing in that is going to help the club going forward, so that you don’t get any irritations from players who are not being picked to start.”

A second avenue involves Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado. Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reports that United have entered the race for the 22-year-old Spain international. Signing Casado could serve a dual purpose for United: reinforcing a midfield depleted by Casemiro’s departure while simultaneously giving Barcelona a more straightforward path to signing Rashford permanently — potentially reducing pressure on the La Liga club to meet the £26m option-to-buy in their loan agreement.

Barcelona have not yet triggered that clause, with reports indicating ongoing negotiations over the transfer fee. Rashford’s form this season has complicated matters further. The 28-year-old has contributed 14 goals and 14 assists across 49 appearances in all competitions, prompting teammate Frenkie de Jong to lobby publicly for his retention.

“In the minutes he’s played, he has given us a lot: goals, assists, depth,” de Jong told Sport. “He is a fast player, who threatens rival defences. I would be delighted if he continued with us. He arrived here with a lot of enthusiasm. He was very happy to be here and from the first moment he arrived you could already see that he wanted to stay.”

With Barcelona’s decision on the purchase option still pending and two swap frameworks now on the table, Rashford’s destination for next season remains unresolved heading into what is shaping up to be a complex summer of negotiations.