soccer

Barcelona seeks to sign Rashford permanently, negotiates price

Barcelona's sporting director Deco met with Marcus Rashford's agents to start talks for a permanent signing, hoping to reduce the €30m purchase option.

Deco met with Rashford’s agent Arturo Canales and agency colleague Kostas Theoharides on Monday, setting the stage for negotiations with Manchester United. The club is determined to secure the England striker permanently after a successful loan spell.

The main sticking point is the €30m purchase option agreed last summer, which United considers fixed. Barcelona also faces wage constraints, as the forward’s current salary at United is beyond the club’s budget, and any move would require a significant pay cut.