Man Utd forward Marcus Rashford willing to take huge pay cut to force Barcelona move | OneFootball

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is willing to take a huge pay cut to force a move to Barcelona, according to Marca.

The Catalan giants view Rashford as a key target to bolster their attacking options before the January transfer window closes.

Barca’s sporting director Deco and head coach Hansi Flick believe Rashford’s versatility would provide crucial depth for the remainder of the season.

The 27-year-old can play on either side of the front three and also as a centre-forward, which has caught the eye of those at Barca.

However, the club’s financial issues could be a huge stumbling block.

Barca will struggle to register Rashford if they don’t shake up their wage bill, given their issues with La Liga’s strict financial rules.

Renewals for Ronald Araujo and Pedri have slightly eased the burden, but it’s far from enough to accommodate Rashford’s reported €18 million annual salary.

Despite his willingness to accept a pay cut, the Blaugrana would still struggle to make the numbers work.

Barca would only be able to sanction a move for Rashford if they can raise funds through player sales.

Ansu Fati could be the first name through the exit, but he reportedly has no intention of leaving the club this month.

The Spaniard has been strongly linked with a return to the Premier League. Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are known admirers but he wants to remain at his boyhood club.

Eric Garcia has also been rumoured to be on the move, but Flick has reiterated his desire to keep the versatile defender.

Without these departures, Barca’s hopes of signing Rashford are slim even though he’s desperate to make it happen.

The England interntional’s relationship with United manager Ruben Amorim is dead in the water, and he’s keen on a fresh start abroad.

With the transfer deadline looming on February 3, Barca will need to move quickly if they hope to finalise a deal.

Rashford is also drawing interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia, but he’s not ready to move to the Gulf State at this stage in his career.