Barcelona have reportedly outlined terms to turn Marcus Rashford’s loan from Manchester United into a permanent transfer. The attacker is currently at the Catalan club on a temporary basis, but has the option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign.
According to reports, Barcelona are preparing to trigger a £26m buyout clause in his contract. However, recent suggestions suggest they may be reconsidering their position.
Rashford was a consistent part of Barça’s first eleven in the middle of the season, but in recent years he has increasingly established himself as a substitute player. He did not feature in the La Liga matches against Real Oviedo and Levante.
He came on for the final 20 minutes of Tuesday night’s Champions League match against Newcastle United at St James’ Park. This came despite hitting the forward net twice the last time the teams met earlier in the season.
Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo report that the 28-year-old needs to justify his selection for the remainder of the season.
Although there is still a possibility of a permanent transfer, he is “expected to perform even better” towards the end of the season. Barcelona are also said to admire Chelsea’s Pedro Neto, who can play on the wing or as a false nine.
Should Barcelona pursue their interest in Neto in the summer, competition for Rashford could intensify within the squad, threatening a permanent transfer and potentially resulting in his return to United.
Over the course of this season, Rashford scored 10 times in 38 games for Barcelona in all competitions and provided a further 13 assists. Nevertheless, his most recent goal came during a 3-1 win against Elche in January.
Rashford’s outlook may be affected by Barcelona’s presidential election, scheduled for March 15th. Incumbent Joan Laporta is one of the candidates, along with Victor Font and Mark Circa.
If Laporta secures re-election, Deco is likely to remain as sporting director, suggesting a consistent transfer strategy for the summer window. However, those plans could change significantly if a different president wins.
