Newcastle United are making “serious moves” to sign Marcus Rashford with Manchester United desperate to sell their academy graduate this summer, according to a report.
Rashford has not played for United since December after a dispute with Ruben Amorim led the 27-year-old forward to publicly push for an exit from his boyhood club.
Rashford’s exorbitant wage packet, worth in excess of £300,000 a week, prohibited many suitors from following up their interest in January, however.
Eventually, in the final stages of the winter window, a loan deal was struck with Aston Villa which saw the Midlands side agree to pay the majority of Rashford wages. It included a £40 million buy option.
Rashford demonstrated a mini-resurgence in form under Unai Emery, returning four goals and six assists in 17 appearances for the Villains. He even earned a recall to the England national team after impressing new manager Thomas Tuchel.
But Villa opted against triggering the buy option in their deal with United as the season draw to a close. There was a sense at both clubs that Rashford’s preference is a move abroad with Barcelona the “dream” option for the 27-year-old after the Blaugrana expressed interest in January.
But Barcelona are accelerating with plans to sign Athletic Club starlet Nico Williams, a tricky winger who operates in the same position as Rashford, with a £49.5 million deal under way.
The Catalan club retain interest in signing Rashford, due to his versatility across the front line, but they are content to wait for the England international and will seek to sign him on loan, rather than the permanent exit United are pushing for.
Closer to home, Rashford has also been subject to advances from Premier League clubs.
Arsenal hold a long-standing admiration in the forward while Tottenham Hotspur also expressed interested. But Rashford is believed to have ruled out a switch to London, despite prioritising a side in the Champions League next season.
This led to Newcastle emerging as a surprise contender to offer Rashford an “escape route” from Old Trafford. But the Magpies were reported to be only interested in a loan deal and distanced themselves from a deal after United reiterated their intention to seek a permanent exit for their wantaway star.
However, Caught Offside now reveals Newcastle have returned to the race and are making “serious movements” to sign Rashford.
“Newcastle United are making “serious moves” to sign Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, well-connected sources have told CaughtOffside. High-up figures with close ties to the agents industry have confirmed that Newcastle are showing a strong interest in Rashford this summer.”
The Tyneside club failed with a £45 million bid for Antony Elanga – the Nottingham Forest winger who came through United’s academy – whose sale would net the Reds a sizeable profit due to a sell-on clause.
Caught Offside contends Rashford may offer an “an alternative for Newcastle, and he’d likely be cheaper, as Sky Sports previously stated his asking price was around £40m.” But the report reveals Newcastle are still pushing for a loan deal, rather than a permanent transfer.
This suggests the North West club may have received a fresh signal the Red Devils are now ready to compromise on their stance over Rashford’s future with the impending threat of pre-season on the horizon next month with Amorim adamant he does want to include the 27-year-old on the tour.
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
