United ask for player swap deal to let superstar go, CL giants open to letting €65m star leave – report

Manchester United are reportedly set to ask FC Barcelona for Ronald Araujo in a swap deal for Marcus Rashford.

The Englishman has made it clear that Barca are his preferred destination.

He has even been training in Marbella, Spain recently in anticipation of a move to the Spanish giants.

Rashford is said to be “desperate” to seal a move to Catalonia and will even lower his salary to push through a move.

Nonetheless, Barcelona are currently pursuing Nico Williams and Rashford’s dream may soon be in tatters. Complicating the deal further, the Camp Nou side have only been suggesting loan deals up to this point, whilst United have been keen on a permanent transfer.

Reports in Spain (via F365) have claimed that there could be another solution to the transfer, however.

United have long-held an interest in Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo and it is suggested that the Catalans would be prepared to let go of him in order to seal a deal for Rashford.

The Spanish media state that in negotiations with United, they have put forward the idea of exchanging Araujo for Rashford and this is something Barcelona could get behind.

The report states, “Araujo’s case is complex. Although he recently renewed his contract, he has lost prominence this season.”

As a result, Barcelona would not “object” to his departure, especially in the context that it would “allow them to strengthen a priority position like the left wing.”

Nonetheless, there is one sizeable obstacle to this deal going through and that is the will of the player himself.

Araujo is said to not “want to leave for a team that doesn’t guarantee him a starting spot from day one, especially if that club doesn’t compete in Europe’s elite [competition].”

With United not playing in any sort of European football next season, the project may be a hard sell to the Uruguay international.

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