Barcelona's Savinho Plan Could Derail Rashford Deal as Vilajoana Casts Doubt on Red Devils Forward

The Rashford saga looks set to rumble on into another summer, with Barcelona's transfer plans now threatening to complicate matters further for Manchester United.

The Red Devils shipped their out-of-favour forward to Aston Villa for the second half of last season following a well-documented falling-out with Ruben Amorim. However, Barcelona had already secured him on loan through a separate arrangement, complete with a €30m (£26m) option to make the deal permanent come the end of the campaign.

Initially, there was chatter about Rashford returning to Old Trafford following Amorim's sacking. That notion has since evaporated, though. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS remain keen to engineer an exit, viewing this summer as the ideal window to shift the England international off the books.

The complications, however, are mounting. United's valuation has drifted north of £50m following Rashford's spell at Camp Nou, a figure that sits uncomfortably above Barcelona's willingness to spend. The Catalan outfit are reasonably satisfied with what they've seen, yet affordability concerns and his substantial wage packet have introduced genuine uncertainty about whether they'll activate the clause.

That uncertainty has been amplified by Barcelona's presidential race. Xavier Vilajoana, one of four candidates vying for the top job, has publicly questioned the wisdom of committing funds to the Rashford deal. Speaking to ESPN, he suggested the money might be better deployed elsewhere—specifically citing Mallorca's Jan Virgili as a potential alternative winger option.

"I believe you should always look in-house first, then look outside depending on the characteristics of the players you have," Vilajoana explained. "I would perhaps consider bringing back someone like Jan Virgili as an option rather than paying the Rashford clause."

He did, however, acknowledge that presidential decisions involve broader consultation and that if Rashford proved to be the sporting solution, the finances would materialise.

The real twist comes courtesy of reports in Spain suggesting Barcelona may pivot entirely towards Manchester City's Savinho. Hansi Flick apparently views the Brazilian winger as superior to Rashford, with sources claiming the City man's profile better suits Barcelona's tactical requirements—a matter not merely of talent, but system fit.

That avenue faces its own roadblocks. Pep Guardiola is holding firm at €45 million, a price tag City shows no urgency in reducing. Manchester City's negotiating position remains resolute, and Barcelona's financial constraints mean closing such a deal would prove an uphill battle.

For United, it's another reminder that shifting Rashford won't be straightforward. The longer Barcelona dithers, the murkier the picture becomes.