Marcus Rashford has gone from a difficult final stretch at Manchester United to one of the more intriguing names on the summer market.
A loan spell at Barcelona last season rebuilt his reputation, and at 28 he is scoring goals again, including off the bench for England at the World Cup.
His club future for next season is still unsettled. United want to move him on to clear his wages, and Rashford is willing to take a substantial pay cut to make the right move happen.
What he is less keen on is staying in the Premier League. That is the catch for Tottenham Hotspur, who have made him a priority target.
Marcus Rashford would take a pay cut, but not for a Premier League move
Tottenham have moved quickly this summer, signing Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52m and having an £80m bid for Sandro Tonali turned down by Newcastle United, with proven Premier League players the priority over younger talent from abroad.
The i Paper reports that Rashford is seen as the next target. He is in good form, he is affordable, and he ticks the experience box.
United and Rashford have agreed a £40m release clause but Tottenham are not willing to go that high and are exploring a lower offer.
The complication is Rashford’s own preference. He would rather move abroad again, ideally back to Barcelona or to Bayern Munich, who are monitoring him, or return to United and try to revive his career at Old Trafford.
A move to another Premier League club is not currently on his radar.
🤔 How much should Spurs pay to sign Marcus Rashford?
💷 Tottenham are working on a deal to pay less than his £40m release clause…
United may yet force a rethink. They would prefer to offload him to save on his wages, and they will not entertain another loan to Barcelona after the Catalans declined the option to sign him permanently. Roberto De Zerbi, a big admirer, is expected to push the Spurs board to find a deal.
Barcelona’s decision already looks questionable. Rashford finished his loan with 14 goals and 11 assists in 49 games, yet the club passed on a cut-price option to keep him and spent heavily on Anthony Gordon instead.
When Rashford came off the bench to score against Croatia, fans revisited Barcelona’s call over Gordon all over again.
His next few weeks may decide the rest. A strong World Cup run with England would lift his market value and widen his options, while an early exit could leave him with fewer suitors and less leverage.
For now, Rashford’s summer looks tied to how far England go.
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