Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is on the verge of securing a season-long loan move to Barcelona, with the deal including an option to buy, Afrosport reports.
Rashford has been keen on joining Barcelona since talks of a proposed move initially surfaced in January. He has been granted permission by United to begin discussions with the Catalan club, and talks between all parties are progressing well.
The Spanish champions are in the market for a versatile forward who can operate across the attacking third. Nico Williams and Luis Diaz were high on their wish list, but deals for both players collapsed — Williams opted for a new long-term extension with Athletic Club until 2035, while Liverpool have made it clear to all interested parties that Diaz is not for sale.
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, who spoke about their plans to bring in another forward, is reportedly delighted with Rashford’s imminent arrival and is eager to welcome him to the squad.
The England international fell out with United head coach Ruben Amorim and expressed his desire for a “new challenge” during an interview last December. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, with the deal including a £40 million option for a permanent transfer, which they failed to reach an agreement on.
The 27-year-old scored four goals in 17 appearances for Villa, but Unai Emery’s side failed to qualify for the Champions League. His campaign was cut short by a hamstring injury sustained in April, which ruled him out of the final four matches of the season.
Rashford last featured for United in a Europa League tie against Viktoria Plzen on 12 December. He has been training separately from the first-team squad over the past two weeks and is one of five players told to find a new club by Amorim.
A United Academy graduate and one of the club’s highest earners, Rashford has three years remaining on his current £325,000-per-week contract. He made his senior debut for the Red Devils as an 18-year-old in February 2016 and has since scored 138 goals in 426 appearances.
He has won five major trophies with United, including two FA Cups, two League Cups, and a Europa League title.
