Barcelona’s pursuit of new attacking options continues, with Nico Williams now top of their wishlist. The Athletic Bilbao winger, who has a release clause of £48.1 million, has reportedly opened up to the idea of joining the Catalan side. Sporting director Deco even travelled to Ibiza to meet the Spanish international during his holiday after prior discussions with his agent.
While Marcus Rashford remains eager to make a switch to the Spanish champions, he finds himself further down the pecking order. The club’s focus has shifted toward Liverpool’s Luis Diaz and Bilbao’s Williams, making a Rashford deal increasingly unlikely.
Manchester United are not keen on a loan exit and are holding out for a permanent sale. The funds from a full transfer could play a key role in financing Ruben Amorim’s rebuild plans at Old Trafford this summer. This has added to the uncertainty surrounding Rashford’s future.
Despite Barcelona’s interest in strengthening under new coach Hansi Flick, the English forward isn’t their first-choice target. Rashford, who spent the second half of the previous campaign on loan at Aston Villa, has not hidden his preference for a Camp Nou move, even signalling readiness to take a substantial pay cut from his £350,000-a-week salary.
Rashford’s representatives have already initiated talks with Barcelona. His brother, who also acts as his agent, was in Spain last month for discussions aimed at facilitating the switch. However, with Rashford not being a priority, the discussions have yet to yield results.
Villa, meanwhile, hold a £40 million option to make Rashford’s stay permanent, but the 27-year-old seems determined to take a different path. His time at United under Amorim has been difficult, with the Portuguese manager sidelining him during the winter.
Complicating Barcelona’s plans is La Liga’s strict financial framework. President Javier Tebas recently made it clear the club must make player sales and rebalance accounts before signing under the 1:1 rule. That constraint also affects their ability to register Williams if the transfer materialises.
Even as options narrow and financial constraints weigh heavy, Rashford continues to push for the dream move, making clear that he’s ready to do whatever it takes—even at a significant personal cost.