Manchester United will save a significant amount on their wage bill this season after Barcelona agreed to pay all of Marcus Rashford’s salary as part of his proposed transfer.
Marcus Rashford Set for Barcelona Switch in Sensational Loan Deal
Marcus Rashford is on the brink of sealing a dream move to Barcelona after Manchester United and the Catalan giants reached an agreement in principle on Saturday, according to The Times.
The 27-year-old forward, who still has three years remaining on his £300,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford, will join the La Liga champions on a season-long loan. The deal reportedly includes an option to buy at the end of the 2025/26 campaign for an undisclosed fee.
In a move that will ease the financial strain on United, Barcelona have agreed to cover 100% of Rashford’s wages during the loan spell – a financial relief of around £17 million, welcomed by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the club looks to cut costs during manager Ruben Amorim’s squad rebuild.
Rashford spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa but was reluctant to commit permanently, as he preferred a move to a Champions League club. Villa ultimately declined to trigger the £40 million buy option.
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is believed to have spoken directly to Rashford, helping to push the move forward. While the Spanish side initially had their eyes on Liverpool’s Luis Díaz, their interest reportedly shifted after Bayern Munich’s £58 million bid for Díaz was rejected.
United’s Expensive Wage Bill Comes Under the Spotlight
The deal also puts Manchester United’s hefty wage structure into focus. Estimates from Capology show the club’s weekly payroll stands at £3.29 million, with a total annual wage bill of over £171 million. The average weekly wage for a United player is £113,672.
Here are United’s current top earners:
- Casemiro – £350,000
- Bruno Fernandes – £300,000
- Marcus Rashford – £300,000
- Mason Mount – £250,000
- Jadon Sancho – £250,000
- Matthijs de Ligt – £195,000
- Harry Maguire – £190,000
- Matheus Cunha – £180,000
- Luke Shaw – £150,000
- Christian Eriksen – £150,000
As Manchester United look to reshape their squad and bring costs under control, Rashford’s exit could mark the first of several high-profile changes this summer.
