Barcelona have reportedly taken a decisive step toward signing England forward Marcus Rashford on a permanent basis from Manchester United following an impressive loan spell at the Camp Nou.
The Catalan giants are said to be satisfied with the attacker’s performances and are now ready to trigger the purchase option included in his loan deal.
According to Luis Miguelsanz of Sport in Spain, Barcelona’s sporting leadership has reached a “unanimous” decision to complete the transfer, agreeing to meet Manchester United’s valuation without negotiation.
The report states that Barça intend to activate the €30 million buy option, with no expectation of a discount from the Premier League club.
“Barça will use the €30 million option to buy the player permanently in a deal that won’t be discussed, because Manchester United won’t reduce their asking price by even one euro,” Miguelsanz wrote.
“The Catalan club thinks this price is fair and not too high, considering the player’s skills and how much similar players in this position are worth, which could go up a lot.”
Rashford’s strong form during his loan stint has convinced Barcelona that the deal represents good value, particularly in a market where proven attacking players continue to command rising fees.
The 27-year-old has quickly adapted to Xavi’s system and has become an important attacking option, prompting the club to move swiftly to secure his long-term future.
Beyond Rashford, Barcelona are also reported to be monitoring Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero as part of plans to reinforce their defence.
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Gabriel Sans of Mundo Deportivo reports that the 27-year-old Argentina international is considering a move away from Spurs at the end of the season, despite having a contract that runs until 2029.
“Cristian Romero, who is 27 years old, has chosen to look for a new team in June, even though he still has a contract that runs until 2029 and he is the captain of Tottenham,” Sans wrote. Romero’s leadership and aggressive defensive style are said to appeal to Barcelona as they look to add experience and quality at the back.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Spain, speculation has intensified over the future of veteran defender Sergio Ramos following his departure from Mexican side Monterrey in December.
The 39-year-old, who remains keen to continue his playing career, is reportedly focused on a return to Spain.
Ramos has been linked with both Sevilla and Real Madrid, the two clubs most closely associated with his career. However, Sevilla’s sporting director Antonio Cordón has ruled out a move, citing financial constraints and stating there is “no financial possibility” of bringing the defender back.
Despite that, journalist Juanfe Sanz revealed on El Chiringuito that Ramos has once again made himself available to Real Madrid during a challenging period for the club.
“It’s not the first time he’s offered himself to Real Madrid when things were tough,” Sanz said, adding that Ramos has also expressed willingness to return to Sevilla, noting that “the two teams he loves the most are Real Madrid and Sevilla.”