A surprise new club have joined the race to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United this summer, according to a report.
Rashford began his 2024/25 season by playing the full 90 minutes 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, this omission allowed him to have a complete pre-season with Erik ten Hag’s team.
Whether this pre-season will benefit United or attract interest from other clubs remains uncertain.
Goal reports that Barcelona has entered the competition to sign Rashford from Manchester United this summer.
The Spanish club is on the verge of finalizing the departure of midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who is poised to return to Manchester City a year after leaving them on a free transfer.
This transfer could generate funds for new signings, although the Gundogan move is partly driven by the significant €57 million spent on RB Leipzig midfielder Dani Olmo.
According to Goal, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has specifically requested the acquisition of Rashford, as he desires a left winger who can dribble and shoot effectively.
Barcelona has been unsuccessful in their attempt to sign Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, who impressed at Euro 2024 with Spain, and has now shifted their focus to English football.
Earlier this week, Flick hinted that making new signings could be challenging for the rest of the transfer window, as Barcelona has struggled with registering new players for La Liga.
He commented: “I’m optimistic, but there’s still time left. I trust the club. We have more players available in the team and I hope they can return [from injury].
“I’m actually happy with the players I have. When I signed my contract, I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but given all the injuries, I’m looking forward to having them back.”
