Marcus Rashford latest: New club emerges as frontrunner to sign striker as Man Utd seek £40m

Marcus Rashford's future appears clearly to be away from Manchester United and now Bayern Munich have emerged as a frontrunner to sign him.

His United future is at a crossroads after Aston Villa confirmed they will not be signing him permanently, forcing the forward to return to Old Trafford as the summer transfer window opens.

Rashford, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Villa, had a £40 million buy option in his loan agreement, but Villa have decided against activating it.

Despite contributing four goals and five assists in 17 appearances, Villa deemed the fee too high and will instead focus on other targets.

United, having missed out on European qualification, are under pressure to raise funds for new signings.

Rashford is not part of manager Ruben Amorim’s plans, and the club is actively seeking to sell him this summer.

With Villa out of the running, United are now looking for alternative buyers. Newcastle United are reportedly exploring a deal, but Rashford’s own preference is to join Barcelona.

However, this presents a challenge for United, as Barcelona are only considering a loan move rather than a permanent transfer, complicating United’s efforts to generate significant funds.

Rashford’s contract at United runs until 2028, but his future has been uncertain since he expressed a desire for a new challenge at the end of 2024.

Amorim has removed him from his plans, and although Rashford was brought back into the fold briefly, he has not featured since making his intentions clear.

The club may be forced to compromise on an exit package, with his current market value estimated at around £45 million.

The 27-year-old is open to a move abroad, prioritising a switch to a club where he can compete for titles.

Bayern Munich have emerged as a surprise contender, considering a move to pair Rashford with England teammate Harry Kane, reported The Mirror.

While a sale is United’s preference, Rashford is also open to a loan or a swap deal if the right opportunity arises.

In the meantime, he is expected to report for pre-season training with United on July 7 as his future remains unresolved.

Rashford’s situation underscores the challenges United face in reshaping their squad and finances after a disappointing season, with his next move likely to be one of the key stories of the summer window.