FC Barcelona started off the summer transfer window with conviction, advancing to sign Joan Garcia from Espanyol. The Catalan club has also wrapped up a deal for Roony Bardghji, but things have gone awfully quiet in recent weeks.
One player that Barcelona pursued with quite some interest this summer was Athletic Club star Nico Williams. The Spaniard seemed keen on making the move this season, but the deal eventually fell through, with the player signing a 10-year contract with the Basque club.
Having loaned out Ansu Fati to AS Monaco, it is clear that the club desperately needs to reinforce the left wing this summer. The player who has seemed like the clearest choice at the moment is Manchester United outcast Marcus Rashford.
Now, as per journalist Javi Miguel (h/t Barca Times), sporting director Deco remains the main obstacle in Barcelona signing the English attacker this summer. There are still significant discrepancies in the sporting department on who the attacking reinforcement should be.
Barcelona returning to the 1:1 status
Barcelona have also established that their priority isn’t new signings but instead, sorting out the player departures. The club is looking to return to the 1:1 rule and needs to work towards the same to ensure they are in a better position come August.
While the club’s interest in Rashford is still very much there, it has stalled for the moment as Deco cannot proceed without being confident that the wage structure is balanced. Of course, it also comes down to a matter of preference.
Could a La Masia starlet step up?
One other thing that Hansi Flick might want to do is to wait until pre-season to see if one of the La Masia starlets can step up to fill the void. The name of Jan Virgili has been doing the rounds for quite some time now, and he could be one to watch out.
Marcus Rashford is a very interesting profile who could add a whole new dynamic to Hansi Flick’s squad. The German has a track record of bringing the best out of players, and the Englishman, who earns £300k-a-week at Man United as per Capology, might have a point to prove, considering his unceremonious treatment at Old Trafford.
Ultimately, Barcelona might end up signing Marcus Rashford, by the time the 2025/26 season begins, but the club has a number of options to rule out before they get there. It remains to be seen how this saga plays out.