Marcus Rashford's hopes of a permanent move to Barcelona have been dealt a significant blow after the Catalan club completed a £70m deal for Anthony Gordon, leaving Manchester United to explore other options for the England forward.
Rashford spent the 2025/26 season on loan at the Camp Nou, scoring 14 goals and providing 14 assists in Spain. He had been keen to extend his stay, but Barcelona's pursuit of Gordon has reduced the likelihood of them adding another high-profile attacker to their ranks. The expiration of Rashford's £26m release clause has further complicated matters, removing the straightforward route that had initially made a permanent deal appear likely.
“Marcus Rashford's £26m release clause expired, making a permanent Barcelona move unlikely after they signed Anthony Gordon.”
Talks between United and Barcelona had been ongoing for several months, but with the buyout clause now lapsed, the Premier League club can no longer rely on the Spanish side to take Rashford — and his substantial £325,000-per-week wages — off their hands. A renewed loan agreement has not been ruled out, but United are expected to take a more proactive approach in the market.
Interest in Rashford remains strong from elsewhere. Bayern Munich and several Premier League clubs are reportedly monitoring the situation closely after his productive spell in Spain. United, meanwhile, are preparing for life under newly-appointed permanent head coach Michael Carrick, who has genuine optimism around Old Trafford following a strong end to the 2025/26 campaign and a return to the Champions League.
Midfield is viewed as the key area for reinforcement, with the club hoping to sign Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson and having all but secured the services of Atalanta's Ederson. Beyond that, further changes are expected across the squad.
On the defensive side, United are weighing up a move for Fulham left back Antonee Robinson. The 28-year-old has been a consistent performer since arriving at Craven Cottage in 2020 and is now being viewed as a possible long-term solution at left back, particularly amid uncertainty over Luke Shaw's future, whose current deal is due to expire.