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Manchester United could be facing a familiar situation as they struggle to offload two of their high-earning players before the start of pre-season preparations.

Reports have revealed that Barcelona have been exploring multiple ways to avoid activating Marcus Rashford’s £26 million purchase clause despite his strong performances during his loan spell.

The Catalan club has attempted several approaches — from proposing another loan deal, to suggesting payment in instalments, and now reportedly offering only half the agreed amount. These actions indicate that Barcelona are attempting to negotiate a significantly reduced fee with the Red Devils.

Barcelona have already secured Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United and are close to finalising deals for Bernardo Silva and Julian Alvarez. Their transfer activity seems aimed at pressuring United into accepting a lower offer for Rashford.

However, INEOS, Manchester United’s ownership group, have remained firm in their stance. They are open to negotiating with other clubs to fetch a better price but are reluctant to sell to a direct Premier League competitor, despite interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle United.

The 20-time English champions are hopeful that European giants like Bayern Munich or Real Madrid will soon express interest in Rashford.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Andre Onana has emerged as a target for Turkish club Trabzonspor, who are eager to secure him on loan. INEOS, however, will only approve the move if the full amount of his wages is covered. The preference remains to sell the Cameroonian shot-stopper outright, with Besiktas also showing interest, though his salary could become a sticking point.

Barcelona have until June 15 to exercise their purchase option for Rashford, after which the forward will be required to report back to Carrington. As for Onana, his loan spell runs until June 30.

According to The Daily Mail, both Rashford and Onana are prepared to return to Manchester for pre-season training — a scenario the club would ideally like to prevent.

Last summer, manager Ruben Amorim faced a similar situation when several players were excluded from the first-team setup, forming what was dubbed a ‘bomb squad.’ The incident drew negative media attention and disrupted preparations for the new season.

“If United cannot find Rashford a new club before pre-season training begins after the World Cup, he will return to Carrington. Last summer, he was part of a ‘bomb squad’ that also included Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia, though it remains uncertain how the club plans to handle the matter this time,” a report stated.

“It would likely benefit both sides to avoid repeating that episode, even though United are ironically in need of a left winger this summer.”

“Goalkeeper Andre Onana faces a similar situation following his loan spell at Trabzonspor, where he helped the team win the Turkish Cup. With Senne Lammens now the clear first-choice keeper — having recently been voted the Premier League’s signing of the season — Onana’s future at United appears over, but he is ready to return next month if no transfer materialises.”

Following a third-place Premier League finish, optimism remains high within the United camp. Manager Michael Carrick will be determined to maintain positive momentum and avoid unnecessary distractions. INEOS will be eager to resolve the Rashford and Onana situations promptly to prevent them from becoming another unwanted off-field saga.