Marcus Rashford's Barcelona move is still unresolved, despite reports that he has agreed in principle to a three-year deal. The sticking point is the money. Barcelona have an option to make the Marcus Rashford deal permanent for around £26million, but the terms still need changing before anything is finished. He has already delivered 8 goals and 9 assists in 31 appearances, which gives the club a real decision to make.

Why the deal is not done yet

The reports out of Spain point in the same direction: Rashford is willing to stay, but the structure of the move is not settled. Mundo Deportivo said he has already agreed in principle to a three-year deal, while also saying the terms must be changed to seal a permanent move. That leaves the transfer exactly where it has been for a while, with talks still doing the work that should already have been wrapped up.

The fee matters because Barcelona are not buying a player who has struggled to settle. Rashford's return has been solid enough to justify serious discussion, even if it does not scream bargain. He has 8 goals and 9 assists in 31 appearances, and his salary is claimed to be 40 per cent lower than his wages at Manchester United. That is probably why the move remains active, but not simple.

Barcelona also have some breathing room in football terms. They are top of La Liga, which means they can judge Rashford from a position of strength rather than desperation. The 6.84 season rating in the brief is not a superstar marker, but it does back up the idea that he has been useful enough to stay in the conversation.

United have another contract decision to make

The same report set out a separate move at Manchester United, where Tom Heaton is set to sign a one-year contract extension. That is a smaller story, but it fits the club's wider need for squad continuity. Heaton is expected to stay as a homegrown third goalkeeper, which matters for Champions League squad planning.

Michael Carrick is not the subject of this one, but the bigger picture at United is clear enough. There is one outgoing deal still being negotiated around Rashford, and one low-key extension close to being finished at Old Trafford. One is complicated by fee and contract structure. The other is a straightforward one-year add-on for Tom Heaton.

For now, Rashford's future still sits with the same question: will Barcelona change the terms enough to get the deal over the line? If they do, the numbers already point to a player who has given them 8 goals and 9 assists in 31 appearances. If they do not, the conversation just rolls into the next round of talks.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →