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Marcus Rashford is reportedly willing to take a pay cut to “seal a dream move” to Barcelona with the Manchester United forward “favouring a move abroad” over a permanent switch to Aston Villa.
Rashford, 27, swapped Old Trafford for Villa Park at the end of the January transfer window to join Unai Emery’s side on loan until the end of the season after a dispute with Ruben Amorim.
The England international has impressed for his newly adopted side, scoring four times and providing a further six assists in 17 games for the Villains.
Emery has even trusted Rashford up front over Ollie Watkins in recent weeks, with the United loanee starting both legs against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, as well as the crucial trip to the Etihad to play Manchester City in the Premier League.
The 27-year-old suffered a hamstring injury last week, however, which has effectively ended his season and he was forced to watch from the side lines as Villa fell to a disappointing 3-0 loss in the FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace on the weekend.
United and Villa are currently “in talks” over a suitable rehabilitation plan for Rashford with the prospect of an early return to Old Trafford to continue his recovery.
The Villains retain a £40 million buy-option in the loan agreement to sign Rashford on a permanent deal this summer.
However, David McDonnell (Daily Mirror) reveals Rashford “does not want to join” the Midlands side, instead preferring a move abroad with a switch to Camp Nou his “number one choice.”
The report states the United academy graduate would even be willing to take a financial hit to secure the move with his wage packet at Old Trafford – believed to be worth around £350,000 a week – a potential hurdle to any permanent exit from his boyhood club this summer.
“Marcus Rashford is willing to take a pay cut to seal a dream move to Barcelona and draw a line under his Manchester United career. Rashford is understood to have set his heart on joining Spanish giants Barca, knowing he has no chance of playing for United again while Ruben Amorim is in charge.
Villa have an option to buy Rashford for £40million when his loan deal expires, but he does not want to join them, favouring a move abroad – with Barca his No.1 choice. Rashford’s exorbitant wages of £350,000-a-week are certain to prove a stumbling block for clubs interested in signing him, which is why he is willing to take a pay cut to secure a move.”
United are keen to sell Rashford with the potential transfer fee constituting ‘pure profit’ from a PSR perspective, due to his status as an academy player, as well as the enormous saving on his salary.
Whether Barcelona will be willing to return for the 27-year-old this summer, after exploring a deal to sign him on loan on in January, remains to be seen. But the prospect of signing him on much more favourable wages will surely sweeten the deal.
Featured image Mike Hewitt via Getty Images
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