Marcus Rashford’s proposed loan move to Barcelona has moved a step closer after the Manchester United forward reportedly agreed to a significant salary reduction, according to sources in Spain.
The 27-year-old has been seeking a move away from Old Trafford after falling out of favor with manager Ruben Amorim, who hasn’t selected Rashford since United’s Europa League clash against Viktoria Plzen on December 12.
Despite Rashford’s desire for an amicable exit, tensions escalated after Amorim publicly criticized his professionalism, claiming he’d prefer to field United’s 63-year-old goalkeeper coach, Jorge Vital, over the wantaway star.
With Barcelona identified as Rashford’s top choice, recent reports suggest that the Catalan giants have taken steps to facilitate the move.
However, challenges remain, including United’s valuation of at least £50m (€59.6m, $62.1m) and Rashford’s current £325,000-a-week salary.
Rashford Accepts Barcelona's Terms
Spanish outlet Fichajes reports that Rashford has taken a significant step towards securing the move by agreeing to Barcelona’s financial terms, including a substantial pay cut.
The forward is reportedly eager to join the La Liga side, with the operation expected to cost Barcelona €3m (£2.5m, $3.1m) for a loan deal until June.
Despite this, Barcelona still needs to offload players to create salary space. Ansu Fati and Eric García are seen as the most likely candidates to depart and facilitate Rashford’s arrival.
Meanwhile, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is said to be monitoring the situation closely, though he remains content with his current squad and isn’t pressuring for reinforcements.
Uncertainty Over Finalizing the Deal
Sky Sports’ Melissa Reddy, however, reports that Barcelona has yet to make formal contact with United regarding Rashford.
“Amorim is not convinced by Rashford’s behavior or professionalism if he stays past this window, which remains a strong possibility,” Reddy said. “Barcelona is struggling to offload players and create salary space, and their wage bill is growing with recent contract renewals.”
If Rashford remains at United, Reddy stressed that the onus will be on the forward to change his attitude and prove his commitment on the pitch, rather than through public relations gestures.
Fenerbahçe as a Backup Option
While the European transfer window closes on February 3, Turkish clubs, including Fenerbahçe, could still make a move for Rashford, as their window remains open until February 11.
Should the Barcelona deal collapse, Fenerbahçe would be well-positioned to make an offer.
Other United Transfer Updates
Meanwhile, Manchester United are actively engaged in other transfer dealings:
- Casemiro to Roma: Talks are underway for a potential move that would see the Brazilian midfielder join Claudio Ranieri’s side, having fallen behind 21-year-old Toby Collyer in the pecking order at United.
- Ayden Heaven Signing: The Red Devils are finalizing a deal for 18-year-old English defender Ayden Heaven from Arsenal, with Fabrizio Romano confirming the transfer is imminent.
- Alejandro Garnacho Swap Deal: United is exploring a potential swap deal with Chelsea involving Garnacho and Christopher Nkunku. However, Gary Neville has expressed concerns about Nkunku’s form and urged United to reconsider.
With less than a week left in the transfer window, the coming days will determine whether Rashford secures his move to Barcelona or explores other options.
