{"id":597612,"date":"2026-05-22T07:50:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T07:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/597612\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T07:50:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T07:50:13","slug":"man-utd-transfer-news-rashfords-131m-swap-suggestion-and-stance-on-returning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/597612\/","title":{"rendered":"Man Utd transfer news: Rashford&#8217;s \u00a3131m swap suggestion and stance on returning"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has multiple options ahead of the transfer window<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Marcus Rashford of FC Barcelona\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_Marcus-Rashford-Barcelona.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Marcus Rashford has spent the season on loan at Barcelona\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Marcus Rashford has spent the season on loan at Barcelona(Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Marcus Rashford has been at the centre of transfer speculation throughout the current campaign. The <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/manchester-united-fc\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Manchester United<\/a> forward is on loan at <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/fc-barcelona\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Barcelona<\/a> and has made no secret of his wish to stay at the Camp Nou.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The 28-year-old, who previously had a stint at <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/aston-villa-fc\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Aston Villa<\/a>, last featured for United in December 2024. <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/marcus-rashford\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Rashford<\/a> has racked up 14 goals and 14 assists in 48 appearances for Barcelona, playing a key role in Hansi Flick&#8217;s side clinching <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/la-liga\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">La Liga<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Catalan giants hold the option to sign Rashford permanently for \u00a326million but <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/man-utd-barcelona-transfer-rashford-37158820\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">are yet to activate the clause<\/a>, with the deadline approaching. As the La Liga champions deliberate over their next move, Mirror Football examines <a aria-label=\"the paths open to RashfordLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/man-united-rashford-transfer-news-33973388\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">the paths open to Rashford<\/a> ahead of the summer transfer window.<\/p>\n<p>Real Madrid interest<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Spanish heavyweights are claimed to be <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/man-utd-rashford-barcelona-transfer-37173581\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">eyeing a surprise swoop for Rashford<\/a>, should Barcelona choose not to exercise their purchase option. <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/real-madrid-cf\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Real Madrid<\/a> are closing in on the appointment of <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/jose-mourinho\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Jose Mourinho<\/a> as their new manager, who previously worked with the forward during his tenure at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MirrorFootballManUnited#\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Spanish outlet <a aria-label=\"SportLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sport.es\/es\/noticias\/barca\/mourinho-quiere-rashford-real-madrid-130358952\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Sport<\/a> has reported that Mourinho is keen for the 28-year-old to link up with him in Madrid. Rashford is regarded as a &#8220;valuable addition&#8221;, with his potential signing also set to &#8220;unsettle&#8221; Barcelona.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37175963\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/ruben-amorim-next-job-manutd-37175963\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ruben Amorim set for shock return to management as replacement for another ex-Man Utd boss<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37174961\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/roy-keane-fernandes-man-utd-37174961\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Raging Roy Keane rips into Bruno Fernandes and Man Utd stars&#8217; behaviour in explosive rant<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The move would only be feasible should Barcelona fail to stump up the agreed \u00a326m fee. However, Rashford has already demonstrated his quality in Spanish football and would undoubtedly bolster Real Madrid&#8217;s ranks.<\/p>\n<p>Man Utd return<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Rashford found himself frozen out at Old Trafford during Ruben Amorim&#8217;s tenure. United&#8217;s dismissal of the Portuguese manager in January has opened the door for the forward to potentially return to his boyhood club in the summer, should a permanent Barcelona deal fail to come to fruition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">While it appears unlikely, interim boss <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/carrick-rashford-manchester-united-barcelona-37036487\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Michael Carrick stopped short of ruling it out<\/a> last month. &#8220;There&#8217;s decisions to be made on certain things, and obviously Marcus is in that situation,&#8221; said Carrick, who played alongside Rashford and later coached him at United.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;But at this point in time, nothing&#8217;s been decided. It will be because it has to be at a certain point but at this stage, there&#8217;s nothing to say.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Marcus Rashford and Michel Carrick\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_GettyImages-1236755102.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Rashford has previously worked under Michael Carrick\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Rashford has previously worked under Michael Carrick(Image: David S. Bustamante\/Soccrates\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>Barcelona deal<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Barcelona have until June 15 to activate their purchase option for Rashford, who has been vocal about his desire to remain beyond this campaign. The Catalan club are yet to reach an agreement with United, as the Reds are unwilling to budge on the \u00a326m asking price, while Barcelona are seeking to renegotiate the fee or arrange a fresh loan agreement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"Mundo DeportivoLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mundodeportivo.com\/futbol\/fc-barcelona\/20260516\/1004183709\/formula-rashford-seguir-barca.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Mundo Deportivo<\/a> reports that Rashford has already agreed a three-year contract with Barcelona in principle. However, Barcelona&#8217;s financial worries could prompt the forward <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/rashford-barcelona-transfer-man-utd-37169042\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">to renegotiate in favour of a five-year deal<\/a>, enabling the club to spread the transfer fee across a longer timeframe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The report adds that his Barcelona wages will be 40 per cent lower than his current earnings at Old Trafford. Back in October, when asked whether he wished to stay, Rashford told <a aria-label=\"ESPNLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.co.uk\/football\/story\/_\/id\/46706543\/marcus-rashford-want-permanent-barcelona-move-manchester-united\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">ESPN<\/a>: &#8220;Oh yeah, for sure. I&#8217;m enjoying this football club and I think for anybody who loves football, Barcelona is one of the key clubs in the history of the game. For a player it is an honour.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Marcus Rashford and Hansi Flick\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779436212_348_2_GettyImages-2233196846.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Rashford has enjoyed his time at Barcelona under Hansi Flick\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Rashford has enjoyed his time at Barcelona under Hansi Flick(Image: Angel Martinez\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>\u00a3131m swap deal<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Meanwhile, former United defender Jaap Stam has floated AC Milan as a potential landing spot for Rashford. United have been linked with AC Milan forward Rafael Leao, who carries a \u00a3131m release clause, and Stam believes a <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/man-utd-transfers-rashford-swap-37139669\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">swap deal could suit both parties<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Maybe a swap between Rafael Leao and <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/marcus-rashford\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Marcus Rashford<\/a> could work,&#8221; Stam told <a aria-label=\"ComeOnLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.comeon.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">ComeOn<\/a>. &#8220;Leao is also a good player. He has shown his potential at Milan, of course, in what he can do. I think he is a player that should be on the list of targets for Man Utd.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Having said that, you need to have a look not only at the skill of a player, but also at the mentality of players. You need to consider the situation where the club is, what player they are bringing in that is going to help the club going forward, so that you don&#8217;t get any irritations from players who are not being picked to start.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/KH2cxHoLmrH6OUTtE1YS7T\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community <\/a>and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you&#8217;re curious, you can read our <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reachplc.com\/site-services\/privacy-policy\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package<\/p>\n<p>This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/affiliates\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769642233_249_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has multiple options ahead of the transfer window Marcus Rashford has spent the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":597613,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[2901,218,1441,1428,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-597612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football","tag-fc-barcelona","tag-football","tag-manchester-united-fc","tag-marcus-rashford","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/597612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=597612"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/597612\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/597613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=597612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=597612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=597612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}