Marcus Rashford is on loan at Barcelona as the club considers whether to make his move permanent from Manchester United. Barcelona hold an exclusive option-to-buy set at €30 million, but the club has hesitated. Sporting satisfaction has met financial concern, and Barcelona have explored renegotiating the price or a second loan. United have so far refused.

Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona have covered Rashford’s salary this season and that the player had already agreed a three-year contract some months ago. That deal reflected an earlier willingness to sacrifice as much as 40% of his contracted Manchester United salary, estimated at the equivalent of around $22.5 million annually. The reduced figure discussed would be roughly $13.5 million per year.

Rashford’s on-field numbers are significant: 14 goals and as many assists this season. He remains secondary to Lamine Yamal and Raphinha and has started only 25 of his 48 appearances. Those details inform Barcelona’s assessment of him as a contributor rather than a guaranteed regular starter.

Even with a lower salary, Barcelona face a financial calculation. Spreading the transfer fee and salary over a three-year contract, known as amortization, would cost the club about $25 million each season. To reduce that annual burden, Rashford has proposed a five-year deal that would not increase the overall cost to the club. Instead of collecting $40.5 million in salary over three seasons, the same total would be spread across five, cutting his annual pay by about 40% to a little over $8 million and lowering amortization from roughly $25 million to $15 million per season.

Barcelona must now judge whether a player who will turn 29 in October can offer a reliable return across a longer contract and whether any resale value remains. Under the proposed five-year term, Rashford would be four months shy of his 34th birthday when the hypothetical deal ends in 2031.

Barcelona face a clear crossroads over Marcus Rashford’s loan. The Catalans can trigger the prearranged buy option by paying $35.1 million (€30 million, £26 million), but reports indicate they remain reluctant to do so. An update from Fabrizio Romano reveals that talks between Manchester United and Barcelona are ongoing, with United standing firm that they “want the money” now and that it must be the “full clause.”

The Athletic notes Barcelona will make a final decision “sooner rather than later.” The situation has hardened into a political standoff, with Spanish media coverage suggesting interest in keeping Rashford has “cooled.” Barcelona are reportedly exploring whether fresh terms might be found in a second loan or even allowing the original loan to expire so the option-to-buy lapses, a tactic aimed at pressuring United if no other suitors emerge.

If Barcelona opt not to pay the clause, they will need forward options. Even if Ferran Torres assumes a No. 9 role once Robert Lewandowski departs, the squad will still require versatile cover. Rashford has largely filled that role this season, acting as the primary alternative to Raphinha or Lamine Yamal when those players were unavailable due to injury.

Executives believe signing a younger forward for a higher fee could have a similar financial effect to making Rashford permanent, because a lower salary might offset a larger transfer fee. Barcelona have been covering Rashford’s wages during the loan, still in the region of $16.4 million after a cut. Linked options include Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon, 25, who reportedly earns around half as much as Rashford but for whom Newcastle could demand $101 million. Real Betis’ Abde Ezzalouli, formerly of La Masia, would represent a cheaper alternative on both fee and wages.

With Manchester United insisting on full payment and Barcelona weighing their financial and sporting priorities, the coming days should determine whether Rashford remains at the club or the search for replacements accelerates.

João Cancelo has added a singular chapter to a well-travelled career after Barcelona secured back-to-back La Liga titles in 2025/26. The full back, whose technical ability allows him to operate on both flanks, has primarily been deployed on the left and played a decisive role as Barça wrapped up the title with a 2–0 El Clásico win over Real Madrid.

On Sunday night Cancelo made his 13th La Liga appearance of the season and his ninth start as Barcelona clinched the championship. That appearance completed a run of domestic winners’ medals across Europe’s principal competitions: the Primeira Liga at Benfica, Serie A with Juventus in 2018–19, three Premier League titles with Man City in 2020–21, 2021–22 and 2022–23, a Bundesliga medal during a loan at Bayern Munich in 2023 and now La Liga with Barcelona in 2025–26. No player before him has won all four of Europe’s major leagues; the only comparable record has been achieved by Carlo Ancelotti as a manager.

Cancelo’s path has mixed permanent transfers with a series of high-profile loans. He spent 2007–14 at Benfica before moving to Valencia (2014–17), a loan to Inter in 2017–18 and Juventus in 2018–19, then a memorable spell at Manchester City from 2019–23. He was out on loan for the second half of 2022–23 and that move opened the door for his Bayern winners’ medal. He is now nearing the end of his second temporary stay at Barcelona, having also been on loan there in 2023–24. Barcelona failed to retain the La Liga title that season and subsequently parted ways with manager Xavi Hernández. Then came Hansi Flick.

Reports in AS say Cancelo wants to remain in Catalonia, but Barcelona remain hamstrung by financial constraints and will prioritise other positions this summer. Hansi Flick has made clear he would welcome a compromise with Al Hilal to secure a permanent transfer, reflecting the impact Cancelo has had since arriving in the winter window.