Barcelona Eye £74m Manchester United Double Raid as Rashford Move Nears Completion

Barcelona have reportedly settled on their future plans, with the Catalan outfit determined to make Marcus Rashford's loan spell permanent and launch a formal bid for fellow Red Devil Lisandro Martinez.

The English winger's trajectory since arriving in Spain has vindicated the club's decision to trigger his option to buy. What looked like a gamble on a player many feared would struggle for minutes has instead delivered a compelling return: ten goals and thirteen assists across 33 appearances this season.

Rashford's resurgence began during a loan stint at Aston Villa, the form that ultimately convinced Barcelona to move for him last summer on a temporary basis with a £26m purchase clause. Missing out on Nico Williams and Luis Diaz had left gaps in their attacking arsenal, making the English forward's versatility an attractive proposition despite Barcelona's well-documented financial constraints.

Now, the club's hierarchy have concluded negotiations with themselves and intend to make the deal permanent when the transfer window opens. Even at £26m, it represents shrewd business for a player who has exceeded expectations and proven capable of operating across multiple attacking positions.

The Spanish outfit's ambitions don't end there. Centre-back Martinez has become one of Manchester United's most dependable performers in recent weeks, and Barcelona have identified him as their next target. The Argentine defender carries a valuation in the region of £48m.

Barcelona's confidence in landing both players is reportedly high. However, the situation surrounding Martinez presents complications. His existing contract at Old Trafford runs until 2027, with the club holding an option to extend by a further twelve months—a position that affords United considerable flexibility.

While panic hasn't set in at Old Trafford, the prospect of losing their in-form defender hasn't gone unnoticed. Club officials are understood to be considering a new contract offer as a precautionary measure. Yet those close to Barcelona's thinking suggest that with the right financial proposition on the table, a deal could potentially be struck, despite United's reluctance to part with their key defender.