Marcus Rashford has a £40m release clause, but Liverpool & Man City are excluded

Barcelona have officially passed on the opportunity to sign Marcus Rashford on a permanent basis. The Catalan giants opted against triggering the €30m buy option in his season-long loan before the deadline, choosing to pivot their financial resources elsewhere. Consequently, the 28-year-old is set to return to Manchester United, although his long-term future remains subject to speculation.

It has been revealed that Rashford's contract contains a £40 million release clause. However, Manchester United management has inserted a specific restriction, effectively blocking local rivals Liverpool and Manchester City from triggering the fee. Despite these contractual barriers, former Liverpool goalkeeper David James has urged his old club to challenge the restriction and pursue the forward, citing his high footballing IQ and technical ability.

United are currently prioritizing central midfield reinforcements, with negotiations ongoing for Atalanta's Ederson and West Ham's Mateus Fernandes. Manager Michael Carrick reportedly remains in contact with Rashford and is prepared to integrate him back into the squad should a permanent transfer fail to materialize this window. Rashford is believed to prefer honoring his remaining two years at Old Trafford over a move to another English club.