Rashford's future remains uncertain, with Barcelona's decision on whether to keep him still up in the air, according to The Guardian.
The next chapter in Rashford's tumultuous relationship with Manchester United could be a long summer: he will have to wait to find out where he will be playing next season.
This state of limbo is unusual for a forward expected to start England's opening World Cup match against Croatia on June 17. However, this is just the latest point in Rashford's career of uncertainty. In December 2024, then-Manchester United manager Amorim excluded him from first-team plans, after which he was successively loaned to Aston Villa and Barcelona. Rashford is still looking for a stable landing spot, perhaps in Catalonia. Last month, he scored a free-kick against Real Madrid, helping Barcelona win the Clasico that decided the La Liga title, and he might have thought things were heading in that direction then.
Under Flick, Rashford performed generally well at Camp Nou and publicly expressed his desire to join Barcelona permanently. After scoring against Real Madrid on May 10, he said: "I'm not a magician, but if I were, I'd stay. We'll see."
The problem is that Barcelona's interest in the 28-year-old is not clear. Last week, Anthony Gordon's £69 million move from Newcastle complicated matters further, as he is also a left-sided attacker. If Barcelona does want Rashford, it seems it would only be on another temporary basis. Manchester United, meanwhile, will hold out for a £26 million asking price, hoping to recoup the transfer fee before the homegrown player's contract expires in May 2028.
Why is a player in his prime not valued highly? The answer also explains the crux of the whole matter: Rashford's annual salary is £17.5 million, with a total remaining salary of £35 million on his current contract. Manchester United wants to offload this high salary cost. If Rashford is loaned out again, the club acquiring him must bear all or most of his salary. Currently, Barcelona seems to have no intention of signing Rashford permanently.
Højlund has joined Napoli from Manchester United for a transfer fee of €44 million, approximately £38 million. Three years ago, he moved to Old Trafford for £72 million. Including the €6 million loan fee for his loan to Napoli last season, Manchester United lost £29 million on this deal.
Højlund was signed by Ten Hag, but lacked consistency in scoring during his time at Manchester United, scoring 26 goals in 95 appearances. He won the FA Cup with the team in his first season, coming on as a substitute in the 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the final. Last season, the Danish forward made 44 appearances for Napoli, scoring 16 goals, and the team qualified for the Champions League.
What other options does Rashford have? Without ruling anything out, even with Amorim gone and Carrick appointed as his official successor, it seems difficult for him to return to Manchester United. The Wythenshawe native remains unpopular with Manchester United's minority shareholder, Ratcliffe, who controls football operations, and is not in the club's senior management team, which includes Football Director Wilcox and CEO Berrada.
After Rashford's loan spell at Villa ended last summer, his goal was to join a Champions League-qualified team that wasn't in London. If this stance has changed, Arsenal could be a potential next destination. As Premier League champions, Arsenal has Trossard and Martinelli as left-wing attacking options, and Arteta would likely see Rashford as an upgrade. Rashford can also play as a number 9, which would provide Arsenal with more variety in addition to Havertz and Gyökeres.
Liverpool is in a similar situation. Gakpo is Liverpool's only senior left-wing option, and his output last season was, at best, mediocre. If Liverpool makes an offer, would Rashford's dissatisfaction with Manchester United be enough for him to set aside club loyalties and move to Anfield?
Villa could also be an attractive destination. Rashford illuminated Emery's team there, especially in the Champions League. Playing abroad again remains a possibility. Paris Saint-Germain has always admired Rashford, but considering that the two-time Champions League winners already have world-class player Kvaratskhelia on the left wing, their chances of signing Rashford seem slim. For Bayern, Luis Díaz has established himself in that position; Real Madrid has Vinicius.
Rashford's next destination might become clearer after the transfer window opens on June 15, but due to his complex situation, differing demands from all parties, and the World Cup being his primary focus right now, progress might be slow. Manchester United can block any deal they deem unsuitable, and Rashford can refuse any transfer he doesn't want to accept. Amidst this tension, some admiring teams are evaluating: they might want to sign a player who helped Barcelona defend their title in Spain, but they also wonder if they can truly afford him.
Rashford remains elusive. Last season, he contributed 8 goals and 9 assists in La Liga, a relatively average return, which might also explain Barcelona's caution about signing him permanently. However, the situation could change. For example, if Rashford performs well during England's World Cup campaign, a £26 million transfer fee plus a high salary might suddenly seem like a bargain.