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Manchester United are eager to finalise a deal for the forward, though several challenges still need to be addressed.

In recent years, Manchester United’s record in signing attacking players has been inconsistent. The club has endured some costly missteps, particularly with Antony and Rasmus Hojlund, who were brought in for a combined fee exceeding £150 million but have failed to make a lasting impression at Old Trafford.

Last summer, United invested around £200 million to bring in Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha. Their debut campaigns have shown promise, though none have emerged as prolific scorers.

Sesko currently stands as United’s top scorer across all competitions this season, having netted 11 goals. This means the club is on course to complete a third consecutive season without a player reaching the 20-goal milestone.

The last United player to achieve that feat was Marcus Rashford, who scored 30 goals in the 2022/23 season. Although he remains under contract at Old Trafford, he appears to be surplus to requirements.

The England international still has two years left on his deal but is reportedly free to seek a new club this summer, according to reports from The Sun.

Rashford has spent the current season on loan at Barcelona, where he has scored 13 goals in 45 appearances after falling out of favour under former United manager Ruben Amorim.

According to The Sun, Barcelona hold a £26 million option to make the 28-year-old’s loan deal permanent, though it is still uncertain whether the club intends to activate that clause.

Sources within United are said to be frustrated by Barcelona’s attempts to negotiate a lower price for Rashford. The player is being represented by a third party during these ongoing discussions.

Talks between the two clubs are continuing, but if Barcelona decide against meeting United’s valuation, the England forward could return to Camp Nou for a second loan spell next season, as he does not feature in United’s plans for the 2026/27 campaign.

Significant changes are expected at Old Trafford this summer, with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe determined to overhaul the squad in preparation for a push back into the UEFA Champions League next season.

There is also uncertainty surrounding the future of interim manager Michael Carrick, who remains in charge only until the end of the current campaign. Despite that, Carrick has guided United to third place in the Premier League since taking over from Amorim in January.

The former midfielder has overseen nine wins from his 13 matches at the helm, collecting 29 points out of a possible 39. Monday night’s 2-1 victory over Brentford has all but secured United’s qualification for next season’s Champions League.