According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Barcelona are hoping to sign 27-year-old English international Marcus Rashford from Manchester United. However, they will only sign him on loan with an option to buy him permanently. It remains to be seen whether Manchester United are prepared to accept the offer.
The English attacker is valued at €40 million, and he has no future at Old Trafford. Manchester United will be hoping to get rid of him permanently in the summer. There have been rumours that he could look to join Aston Villa permanently. The academy graduate has impressed during his loan spell at the West Midlands tab.
Barcelona are certainly a bigger club and a more attractive destination. However, if the Blaugrana fail to agree on a deal with Manchester United, the move will be difficult to pull off the move.
Rashford will want to compete at a high level and fight for trophies regularly. Barcelona could be the ideal move for him. The Catalan giants have won the league title this season, and they will be hoping to fight for major trophies next year as well.
Rashford could be a very useful acquisition for them. The Englishman is capable of operating anywhere across the front three, and he will add goals and creativity to the side. Even if Barcelona have to pay €40 million for him now, he could justify the investment.
It remains to be seen how the situation develops. Sending him out on loan with an option to buy does not make sense for Manchester United. The Red Devils need to improve their attacking unit, and they could use the funds from his departure to improve the squad.
If Barcelona are insistent on a loan deal, perhaps Manchester United should look to include an obligation to buy. It remains to be seen how the situation develops over the next few weeks. Rashford will look to sort out his long-term future in the summer and focus on his football once again. He will be hoping to join a competitive club capable of winning trophies.
