Rashford's Future Uncertain as Arsenal and Barcelona Monitor Situation
Manchester United insist they are planning with Marcus Rashford this season. But they have stopped short of slamming the door shut.
Club sources have not ruled out the prospect of the England forward leaving Old Trafford before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline, with Arsenal and Barcelona both closely tracking his situation.
United have brought Rashford back into the fold, handed him the number nine shirt and used him off the bench in their opening-day defeat at Hull City. Internally, the stance is clear: they want to keep him and are preparing as if he will stay.
Yet the market has a way of testing even the firmest intentions.
United are already allowing Joshua Zirkzee to join Fiorentina, which leaves their attacking department lighter than planned. Losing another forward this late in the window would force a serious rethink, so any move for Rashford would have to be accompanied by a credible replacement. Even so, senior figures at the club are fully aware of the interest and accept that, while a departure is described as highly unlikely, it cannot be completely dismissed.
If the right proposal lands, the situation could move quickly.
Arsenal’s left-side rebuild points towards Rashford
Arsenal are watching closely. The London club are pushing hard to reinforce their left side after signing off on Gabriel Martinelli’s move to Al-Hilal.
They have explored several options, including Real Madrid’s Endrick, as they look to reload in that area of the pitch. But Rashford is not a new name on their radar; the Gunners have admired him for a long time and, as things stand, a late move for the United forward is an avenue they are prepared to consider.
With the deadline looming and Arsenal determined to strengthen on the left, their interest carries weight. If United’s stance softens even slightly, they are poised to act.
Barcelona’s admiration hasn’t faded
Barcelona have not gone away either.
The Catalan side remain huge admirers of Rashford after his successful loan spell at the Nou Camp last season and have kept open lines of communication with his camp. A return has not been completely discounted.
Barcelona had initially set their sights elsewhere, with Julian Alvarez a major attacking target. That move is now viewed as highly unlikely before Tuesday, and the collapse of that plan could nudge them back towards Rashford as the window ticks into its final days.
For now, United are operating on the basis that Rashford stays. But with Arsenal reshaping their left flank, Barcelona still in the conversation and the clock running down, his future is one of the stories that could yet detonate the end of this transfer window.
