Transfer: Marcus Rashford being forced to return to Man United

England international Marcus Rashford is currently in a state of uncertainty, as he may be forced to return to Manchester United for pre‑season training.

The 28‑year‑old was deemed surplus to requirements by his boyhood club and former manager Ruben Amorim last summer.

He then moved on loan to Barcelona, where he spent a season that significantly raised his profile at Camp Nou.

His performances for Hansi Flick’s La Liga champions earned him a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad, which arrived in Florida yesterday.

While Rashford’s immediate focus will be on helping England progress in the upcoming tournament, his long‑term future remains uncertain.

Barcelona have until 15 June to secure Rashford on a permanent deal for £26 million, but The Times reports that they have signalled a willingness to offer only a maximum of £13 million.

United are unlikely to accept such a modest sum, even for a player who would probably not be part of Michael Carrick’s new setup.

Barcelona remain keen on acquiring Rashford, but their financial capacity is not what it once was, having already spent £70 million to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle.

Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, who would cost approximately £60 million, is also on Barcelona’s radar, but they would almost certainly need to offload a defender before pursuing the Spain international full‑back.

Barcelona might choose to wait until after the 15 June deadline to make another attempt to sign Rashford. In that case, United would be able to demand more than the £26 million specified in the buyout clause.

Earlier this month, reports suggested that Rashford’s representatives remain optimistic about ongoing Premier League interest in a player who scored 14 goals and provided 10 assists last season.

Premier League champions Arsenal are poised to support Mikel Arteta once again in this summer’s transfer window, with at least one new forward expected.