The Barcelona coach pushes to sign Manchester United in January

Barcelona have identified their forward line as the area most in need of reinforcement in the January transfer market, and if they make a move, that’s where it will be. Manager Hansi Flick believes Marcus Rashford is the right man for the job.

Rashford has requested to leave Manchester United and will meet with the club this Wednesday to progress a departure, which looks likely to be a loan deal for the rest of the season at least to start. Barcelona would need Rashford to take a significant pay cut and one or two departures first, but they are willing to give Rashford a try.

After his impressive performance in the Spanish Super Cup, Alejandro Balde firmly defends his return to the Spanish team. @xavierbosch

— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) January 14, 2025

According to Sport, the strongest voice in his favor comes from Flick. The German has tried to sign Rashford in the past, while at Bayern Munich, and appreciates the fact that he could play on the left side as well as in the middle, which would provide him with an effective back-up to Lewandowski. The club is less sure and sees his personal life and inconsistency as reasons to stay away. For his part, Rashford will give Barcelona priority, but he has given them until Wednesday to tell him if they will go for him.

Rashford has been linked with a number of clubs in recent weeks, with Napoli, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund cited as his main suitors. One of the things that could work against Barcelona is that it is not obvious for Rashford to start, as he would have to displace either Raphinha or Robert Lewandowski.