'Meeting held': Man United risk losing £26m star on the cheap after buy clause setback

Manchester United could be staring at a major transfer headache when the summer window rolls around.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Barcelona held a meeting with Man United this month to explore options for signing Marcus Rashford permanently.

Rashford is currently spending the season on loan at the Camp Nou, with Barcelona holding an option to buy him outright for £26 million.

The La Liga giants prefer not to trigger that buy clause and will look to sign him for a lower fee.

They are also considering a second consecutive loan move, this time with a conditional obligation to buy built into the deal.

The 28-year-old suffered a breakdown in his relationship with former head coach Ruben Amorim and was sent on loan to Aston Villa in January 2024.

He was later granted his long-awaited move to Spain, with Barcelona only able to proceed on loan due to their ongoing financial constraints.

Rashford even accepted a pay cut to make the dream switch to La Liga a reality.

Amorim was sacked from his managerial position last week.

Michael Carrick has been appointed as the new caretaker head coach for the remainder of the campaign.

INEOS are focused on appointing a permanent manager in the summer as part of a broader reset.

Despite Amorim’s departure, a Rashford return to Old Trafford appears highly unlikely.

The England international has been a solid acquisition for Barcelona and the £26m fee is a bargain in today’s transfer market.

It would be a damaging outcome for United if the Spanish giants succeed in driving that price down even further.

The Red Devils have little appetite for welcoming Rashford back onto their wage bill, given the scale of his current salary.

If Barcelona push hard enough at the negotiating table, United may ultimately be forced to concede ground.

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .