Despite playing well at his new club, Marcus Rashford’s future at Barcelona beyond the summer remains uncertain, and could instead be used as part of a swap deal for a PSG star.
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford joined Barcelona on a season-long loan in the summer, with a £26 million option to buy.
After spending the latter half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, the 27-year-old saw the summer window as a chance to reset and escape the intense scrutiny of the English media.
Despite Rúben Amorim’s mixed start to the campaign at United, Rashford has thrived in Barcelona, scoring six goals and providing 10 assists across 20 LaLiga and Champions League matches.
It had become clear that Rashford no longer featured in Amorim’s long-term plans when new signing Matheus Cunha was handed the number 10 shirt he had worn since 2018.
Rashford could be used in swap deal for Bradley Barcola
PSG have been long-term admirers of Rashford, with it being reported that the Parisian club have set aside £43.7 million for a possible move for the 28-year-old if Barcelona don’t trigger their buy-option, which, as reports suggest, may be the case.
As reported by Football Insider, Keith Wyness, an ex-chief executive at clubs like Aston Villa and Everton, who now runs a football consultancy, thinks that using Rashford as part of a swap deal for PSG star Bradley Barcola would be a great move for United, but also highlighted some potential stumbling blocks.
“Well, the interesting news and development on that story is that PSG are claiming to be coming in here, and there could be some sort of player swap deal with Bradley Barcola, which makes sense, I think, for United.
“He’s obviously a lot younger, was he? About 23, I think. And if they were to get Rashford and a player swap, that would, I think, suit United more than releasing him at the pretty low level, I think, that Barcelona had got, which is going to be about 30 million from memory.
“Now, the player’s point of view, I think Rashford would much prefer to stay at Barca. I think he’s happy, but PSG is not exactly the worst option. And I think he could be spoilt for choice there. And I think there could be a bidding war in terms of least wages being offered to Rashford.”
Barcola could be Amorim’s Amad on the left
Following United’s disappointing 1-0 loss to ten-man Everton, Amorim spoke about the lack of an attacking option at left wing-back, saying, “In the last game, we should have had an Amad with the right foot to put on the other side to play against ten men.”
Having started as a right-winger, Amad was one of Man United’s stand-out players last season at right wing-back, and this season, he has formed a fantastic partnership with Bryan Mbeumo on the right flank, but the same can’t be said for the left side of the pitch.
Barcola, whose performances in Paris Saint-Germain’s run to the final of last season’s Champions League were described as “special”, also assisted in the final as the French side went on to win their first major European title.
Last season, the 23-year-old provided 40 goal contributions in all competitions, but Le10Sport reports that an offer of a salary increase is yet to be accepted, and with his contract running until 2028, a move next summer remains a possibility.
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