Barcelona Eyes Marcus Rashford as Replacement Following Ansu Fati's Departure
Barcelona continues to view Marcus Rashford as a potential summer signing, regardless of whether they successfully secure Nico Williams, according to various media sources.
Williams is believed to have reached an agreement on a long-term deal with Barcelona, despite Bayern Munich reportedly presenting a significantly more lucrative wage package. However, questions persist about Barcelona's financial capacity to activate Williams's €58 million ($67.3 million) buyout clause, which could rise to approximately €62 million ($71.9 million) when additional fees are included.
Should Williams join the club, he would bolster the left wing position, which faces a slight reduction in depth due to Ansu Fati's expected loan departure to Monaco for the 2025-26 campaign. Although the left wing has traditionally been Rashford's favored position throughout his professional career, there's increasing speculation that the Manchester United outcast might be deployed differently at the Catalan club.
Reports from The Times, Guardian, and Daily Mail emerged concurrently on Tuesday evening, indicating that Barcelona manager Hansi Flick recognizes Rashford's adaptability and views his capability to operate as a central striker as a valuable addition to the squad. This positioning would make him a potential alternative to Robert Lewandowski, who will celebrate his 37th birthday in August.
Rashford has personally discussed his growing confidence in the striker role and expressed enthusiasm about potentially playing alongside Lamine Yamal during an interview with a Spanish content creator. Nevertheless, he is still anticipated to join Manchester's preseason preparations in early July unless his departure is finalized.
A major obstacle remains the transfer structure preferences: Barcelona reportedly favors a loan arrangement, while Manchester United insists on a £40 million ($54.4 million) permanent sale—the same amount that represented the purchase option Aston Villa declined to exercise after Rashford's recent loan stint in the Midlands.
Barcelona's interest in Liverpool's Luis Díaz seems to have diminished as their pursuit of Williams has intensified. Díaz, while indicating his openness to exploring new opportunities, had previously stated his contentment with remaining at Anfield through his contract's expiration in 2027.