Barcelona are pushing hard in their attempts to sign Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, with superagent Pini Zahavi brokering the deal.
This is according to Sacha Tavolieri of Sky Sports Switzerland, who has provided an important update on the future of the United star this morning.
Tavolieri says Barça “want to accelerate” their pursuit of the Wythenshawe man and that “discussions have already been held this week between the player’s entourage, super-agent Pini Zahavi, and FC Barcelona to lay the groundwork for a personal agreement.”
It has been previously reported that Rashford is desperate to sign for the Blaugrana, with some reports claiming the Catalans have asked him to refuse all other clubs to try to force United to loan him to them.
However, Tavolieri reports that it is a transfer rather than a loan that is under discussion, with the stumbling block being Rashford’s exorbitant wages.
“Although Rashford’s salary at Manchester United is difficult for Barça to achieve, [Barça president] Joan Laporta’s idea is to extend the contract from four to five years in order to align with the player’s entourage’s demands and thus make the offer economically viable,” the reporter claims.
The reporter also insists that United will not get the £40 million for Rashford that they had agreed with Aston Villa, who took the 27 year old on loan for six months last season.
Barcelona are expecting to pay between €35m and €40 million, equivalent to between £29 million and £33 million.
It’s a figure that will disappoint both Ineos and United fans for a player whose market value is €50 million / £42 million as per transfermarkt.com.
The report also claims that Rashford has also got an idea in mind of where he expects to fit in Hansi Flick’s system.
This is to play up top in the number nine role, “to free up space on the wings to allow Raphinha and Lamine Yamal to be even more effective.” In other words, Rashford is looking to be Robert Lewandowski’s successor at the Camp Nou.
It is natural for Rashford to want to play in one of the best teams in Europe, but that very issue – how he will usurp any of the superb forwards already at the club to claim a regular first team spot – is one that he could find harder to resolve than he imagines. The most likely scenario is that Rashford will be a squad player at the Camp Nou.
Whatever the case, for United the priority is to get the deal done and get some cash in for the wantaway star. Whether they will be willing to accept £33 million, only time will tell, but it does not feel like a situation that is going to be easy to “accelerate”, whatever Barcelona might think.
Featured image Julian Finney via Getty Images
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Red Billy
Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.
