soccer

Barcelona Pursues Permanent Deal for Rashford Amid €30m Hurdle

Barcelona's sporting director Deco has met with Marcus Rashford’s agents to start talks for a permanent transfer, hoping to reduce the €30m purchase option agreed last summer.

Deco met with Rashford’s agent Arturo Canales and agency colleague Kostas Theoharides on Monday, signalling Barcelona’s intent to secure the England striker permanently. The club wants to negotiate a lower fee than the €30m option set in the loan deal.

Manchester United has kept the price firm, but Barcelona hopes the player’s desire to stay in Catalonia and the approaching summer window may open room for compromise. Salary differences also pose a challenge for the club’s tighter budget.