*Medical Tests In Days
*About $10m Salary
*Spanish Champions Can Purchase Him For $35m End Of Season,If…
Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United forward, is reportedly set to undergo medicals in Barcelona within days following an agreement between the English club and Barcelona over a season-long loan for the forward.
The United man asked to leave the club last winter after being dropped from the first XI by the then new head coach, Ruben Amorim.
The England man spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, but the midlands club decided against paying the optional £40 million redemption figure.
On returning to Old Trafford, Rashford made it clear he wanted to move to Barcelona and now has his chance following the Blaugrana’s failed attempts to sign Nico Williams and Luis Diaz.
The latest development in his saga has been corroborated now by top reporter, Fabrizio Romano, who has uttered his trademark “here we go!” catchphrase to announce the deal is done.
Romano said: “Marcus Rashford to Barcelona, here we go! Verbal agreement in principle between all parties involved with Barça planning for medical tests next days.”
“Loan deal with buy option, details being finalised today then Man Utd will authorize his travel to Spain,” Romano added.
Barcelona’s offer for Rashford, which had been made through intermediaries, included an option to buy the 27-year-old next summer and has been sanctioned by their head coach, Hansi Flick,who will use the loan period to evaluate if his performances are worth purchasing him permanently.
Rashford has held talks with Flick while his brother and representative, Dwaine Maynard, met Barcelona officials in Catalonia last month.
The England international is one of five United players who have been told they have no future at the club and made to train away from Amorim’s squad this summer.
Rashford has been training at a gym in Salford and at United’s Carrington base, although only after first-team players have left.
United value Rashford at £40m but, with no permanent offers arriving for a player who has three years remaining on a £325,000-a-week contract, Barcelona’s offer could suit all parties.
The striker has ruled out a wage cut and wants to join a club in the Champions League rather than move to the Saudi Pro League.
However, a source said Barcelona rejected the payment of his full salary with reports saying a wage cut has been eventually agreed and Rashford would earn about $10m yearly even as the loan fee was negotiated to $35m and not $40m.
Talks between United and Barcelona are understood to be continuing but the outline of an agreement is in place.
Flick wants to add versatile forwards to his squad this summer despite having Lamine Yamal and Raphinha at his disposal.
Barcelona were interested in the Liverpool winger Díaz but were informed the Colombia international is not for sale.
Liverpool have rejected a €67.5m offer from Bayern Munich for Díaz. The Spanish champions also attempted to buy Nico Williams before the forward signed an eight-year contract extension with Athletic, his boyhood club in Bilbao.
Rashford has spent 20 years at United, scoring 138 goals in 426 appearances for his boyhood team, but has not featured since being dropped by Amorim for the Manchester derby last December. He said later that month that he was ready for a new challenge away from Old Trafford.
