A new surprise contender has entered the competition to acquire Marcus Rashford from Manchester United this summer, as reported.
Rashford began his 2024/25 season with a full 90-minute performance in United’s 1-0 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford.
Although the 26-year-old was left out of England’s Euro 2024 squad following a challenging previous season, the omission allowed him to have a complete pre-season with Erik ten Hag’s team.
However, it’s still unclear whether this pre-season will benefit United or another club. According to Goal, Barcelona has now joined the pursuit to sign Rashford from Manchester United this summer.
The Spanish club is nearing the departure of midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who is expected to return to Manchester City a year after leaving them on a free transfer.
This move could provide financial resources for new signings, though the Gundogan deal is partly driven by the substantial €57 million expenditure on RB Leipzig midfielder Dani Olmo.
Goal reports that Barcelona’s manager, Hansi Flick, has specifically requested Rashford, seeking a left winger with dribbling and shooting abilities.
Barcelona had previously attempted to acquire Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, who impressed at Euro 2024 with Spain, but have now shifted their focus to English talent.
Earlier this week, Flick hinted that acquiring players might be challenging for the rest of the transfer window, citing difficulties in registering new signings for La Liga.
He commented: “I’m hopeful, but there’s still time remaining. I trust the club. We have more players available and I hope they can return from injury soon.
“I am actually pleased with the players we have. When I signed my contract, I knew it would be tough, but I am looking forward to the return of the injured players.”
