Marcus Rashford's Transfer Talks with Barcelona Heat Up

Marcus Rashford (27), who has revitalized his career at Aston Villa, is now in serious discussions regarding a transfer. According to reports from 'The Sun' on May 28, citing European transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano, Rashford's camp has initiated new negotiations for a potential move to FC Barcelona this summer.

Barcelona had previously considered signing Rashford during the January transfer window, but the deal did not materialize. Instead, he was loaned to Aston Villa, with that agreement set to expire on June 30.

Manchester United has set Rashford's transfer fee at £40 million (approximately 74 billion KRW). However, he is one of four players on Barcelona's list of potential attacking signings. The top target is Liverpool's Colombian winger Luis Díaz, but local media suggest that Díaz's transfer fee is higher than Rashford's, making a deal less likely.

Rashford is eager for a move to Barcelona, particularly to join a club competing in the UEFA Champions League (UCL). Aston Villa finished sixth in the Premier League, missing out on UCL qualification for the next season.

Barcelona, having won La Liga this season, will return to the UCL. However, Rashford may need to accept a significant pay cut to join the Catalan club. Currently, he earns £325,000 (approximately 609 million KRW) per week at Manchester United, a figure that Barcelona, facing financial difficulties, may struggle to accommodate.

Rashford has been a key figure for Manchester United since joining the club at the age of seven and making his first-team debut at 18 in February 2016. However, after ten seasons, he is considering a new path.

In the 2022-2023 season, under former manager Erik ten Hag, Rashford scored 17 goals and provided 5 assists in 35 Premier League matches, establishing himself as a crucial player. However, his form declined in the 2023-2024 season, where he managed only 7 goals and 2 assists in 33 matches.

This season, he has recorded 4 goals and 1 assist in 15 Premier League games, but concerns about his off-field issues have been raised, especially since Ruben Amorim took over as manager last November.

Aston Villa agreed to cover 75% of Rashford's wages to facilitate the loan, which has proven to be a beneficial arrangement. Since joining Villa, he has played 18 matches, scoring 4 goals and assisting 6 times. In March, he was also recalled to the England national team under manager Thomas Tuchel.

Rashford is under contract with Manchester United until June 2028. With Amorim at the helm, a return to Manchester United seems unlikely. There are speculations that Barcelona may negotiate a loan deal that includes an option for a permanent transfer.