Despite spending £69 million on Rashford’s England squad, the Spanish champions remain interested in securing his services. However, his hopes for another loan deal, or for a fee below the £26m buy-out option included in his original deal, were firmly rejected by United. Rashford could return to the first team, but United may prefer to sign the forward to take his £315,000-a-week wage off the books as they review their salary structure.
According to the Daily Mail, United are in the market for a new left winger and while Rashford is thought to be the ideal candidate, the feeling on both sides is that a new move elsewhere would be the best outcome.
That could happen through a return to the Camp Nou, with claims that Barcelona could continue to push United’s reluctance to sanction a new loan deal.
Rashford has attracted interest from several of United’s Premier League rivals, with Arsenal, Aston Villa and Tottenham all monitoring his situation closely. The latter have already flexed their financial muscle in the transfer market, bringing West Ham star Matheus Fernandes to United.
Alex Scott, Aurelien Tchoameni, Tyler Adams and Felix Nmeka have since emerged as possible targets in United’s midfield, with first-choice Elliott Anderson opting to join rivals Manchester City instead.
Three of those four have played in the World Cup in recent weeks, with Adams and Choameni still in the United States following the Round of 32 wins by the United States and France, respectively. Meanwhile, Germany and Numeca suffered a surprising early defeat at the hands of Paraguay.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder has also been linked with Newcastle United, who are looking for a replacement for Sandro Tonali, with the Italian set to follow Fernandes to north London.
Rashford himself, along with Nmeka, almost suffered a shock exit from the World Cup, but England came back to beat the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was given a starting place in the knockout tie and was replaced by Gordon, who set up Harry Kane’s two goals.
