“Rashford at risk after Barcelona reaches agreement for Gordon.”

Barcelona is racing against time to secure Marcus Rashford before the June 15 deadline. Despite a productive loan spell for the English forward, who scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists this season, the Catalan club is hesitant to activate the £30 million buy clause imposed by Manchester United. The imminent arrival of Anthony Gordon, in a deal close to £70 million, further complicates Rashford’s future at Camp Nou.

Coach Hansi Flick has pressured Barcelona’s management to finalize the deal, but sources close to the club suggest that the signing of Gordon — who has reportedly passed his medical and should be officially announced soon — significantly reduces the chances of Rashford staying. Both are versatile players on the left flank, capable of playing centrally, but Barcelona’s priority will still be to secure a forward to replace Robert Lewandowski.

According to The Athletic, Rashford’s inner circle still believes in a solution that would allow him to share the attack with Gordon next season, although there are significant doubts within the club’s management. Manchester United remains firm and demands payment of the clause, with the deadline approaching rapidly.

Conversations between the clubs are scheduled for this week, as revealed by journalist Ben Jacobs, who highlighted Manchester United’s desire to see the clause activated and the need for an agreement between clubs to facilitate the English forward’s stay at Barcelona. Meanwhile, United shows no interest in reintegrating Rashford into the first team under the management of Michael Carrick, paving the way for the player to seek another destination if the transfer does not materialize.

In the midst of this turbulent scenario, a surprising proposal emerges: a potential swap deal between Manchester United and AC Milan involving Rashford and Rafael Leão. The Portuguese winger, previously valued at over 100 million euros, may be available for around 50 million, a significant reduction that has sparked interest at Old Trafford. Jaap Stam, former United defender, considers this swap a plausible and beneficial option, emphasizing that Leão, at 26 years old, is a player of great potential and an attractive option for the Red Devils’ squad.

Stam cautioned, however, about the importance of assessing not only the technical qualities but also the mentality of the players and the impact they may have on the club’s dynamics: “It is essential to ensure that the incoming player contributes positively to the group, avoiding friction with those who remain on the sidelines.”

Rashford’s future is thus at a decisive turning point, with Barcelona facing the challenge of balancing investment in new signings and retaining the Englishman, while Manchester United considers alternatives and strategies to strengthen their attack. The outcome of this dossier promises to shake up the European transfer market in the coming weeks.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.