​Manchester United still looks eager to move Marcus Rashford on this summer, as a raft of new clubs begin to position themselves as potential bidders for the 28-year-old forward, according to a report. AS Roma Live notes that both Roma and Napoli have been “sounded out” by intermediaries to assess their level of interest in Rashford. The Italian clubs are understood to be impressed by his profile and are in the market for additional firepower in their front lines as they prepare for Champions League football next season, having finished just three points apart in Serie A.
However, Rashford’s wage demands at Old Trafford—reported to exceed £300,000 a week—are well beyond what Roma and Napoli could accommodate. The outlet states that “[he] isn’t a priority for the Italian clubs, given his current salary of around €8.4 million, including bonuses.”
Strangely, both Roma and Napoli have also been linked with Joshua Zirkzee, who seems likely to return to Italy after initially struggling to adapt to the Premier League. The 25-year-old Dutch forward is said to want to stay at Manchester United and prove himself, but INEOS are pressing to offload him to fund the purchase of a more reliable striker.
Rashford remains intent on continuing his career elsewhere, with Barcelona keen to keep him after the Blaugrana chose not to exercise the £26 million buy option in his loan deal, despite his impressive contributions for his temporary club. Transfermarkt is the source cited for this development. German coach Hansi Flick is also believed to prefer Rashford’s staying at the Camp Nou, though the recent signing of Anthony Gordon and ongoing negotiations for Karim Adeyemi have all but extinguished any lingering prospect of a return.
The wage barrier in Serie A makes a move challenging, but the financial heft of the Premier League keeps more doors open. Several clubs, including Aston Villa and Newcastle United, have expressed interest in Rashford, a native of Wythenshawe. Yet AS Roma Live reports that Tottenham Hotspur are currently the most active suitors, having made the “most concrete contact” with Rashford’s camp. Roberto De Zerbi is said to be pushing for his arrival in North London, though Rashford’s preference for Champions League football shapes his choices, hence his interest in advances toward Roma and Napoli.
Tottenham’s feasibility as a destination is complicated by their precarious league position last season, which left them outside European competition—an important obstacle for any potential transfer. Other clubs that have opened negotiations this week include Fenerbahce of the Turkish Süper Lig, with Galatasaray also entering the race. Nevertheless, Rashford is not widely believed to be open to a move to Turkey at this stage of his career, as he would prefer remaining within a top European league.
Manchester United, for their part, appear unconcerned with Rashford’s destination as long as he does not join Manchester City or Liverpool, or another direct domestic rival, should a sale go through. The market remains unsettled, and Rashford’s future hinges not only on his wages but also on which clubs can present a competitive sporting project that aligns with his ambitions for Champions League football.