Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is set to return to the club, with his future uncertain, but Old Trafford chiefs may have the opportunity to offload the academy product.
Marcus Rashford of England looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Marcus Rashford could be used in a swap deal
Manchester United could use Marcus Rashford in a bid to land Roma star Manu Kone. The Red Devils are looking to continue their midfield reinforcement push, and the Frenchman has been the subject of their interest.
United have so far been unwilling to meet Roma’s £51million asking price, but Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy suggest that Rashford could provide a suitable makeweight to get a deal over the line. Kone is poised to leave the Stadio Olimpico this summer as the Italian look to fund their own transfer plans and adhere to Financial Fair Play regulations.
Roma have fielded multiple enquiries regarding the Frenchman, but neither United nor Al Ahli have been convinced by that valuation. Reports claim that Michael Carrick’s side could take advantage of Roma’s desire to sign a left-sided forward.
However, the England international’s wages would present difficulties for the Italians. They would require United to foot up a significant portion of Rashford’s salary for a loan arrangement.
United chiefs prefer a permanent exit for Rashford after his loan spells to Barcelona and Aston Villa both ended without a move being made permanent. A successful stint at Camp Nou did not even get a deal over the line.
The Catalan outfit declined to sign Rashford permanently despite possessing an option to acquire the 28-year-old for £26m. They opted instead to recruit Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United.
No club has yet met United’s asking price for Rashford, while reports suggest the academy graduate turned down the prospect of a move to Turkey. As it stands, Rashford looks set to return to Old Trafford.
The forward has not featured for the club since December 2024, but still has two years left to run on his contract. A clause that would have permitted him to leave for £40m – to any club other than Liverpool or Manchester City – has now expired.
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford is set to return to Manchester United for the moment
Rashford remains United’s highest earner, pocketing £325,000 per week and accounting for a considerable chunk of the club’s wage bill. While the board will be eager to shed that financial burden, Michael Carrick indicated at the end of last season that he was open to the idea of the forward staying put.
“Whoever’s here, I want to work with, and help them improve,” Carrick said. “At the moment, it’s this squad of players. There’s obviously players on loan, and whatever happens with that later on will happen.
“But certainly, as a coach, and leader of a squad, we want to get the best out of everyone.”
