Marcus Rashford becomes key to breaking the deadlock in the Manu Kone transfer for MU.
Man Utd are considering including Marcus Rashford in a swap deal to sign midfielder Manu Kone from AS Roma, addressing their midfield problems following Manuel Ugarte's injury.
Manuel Ugarte's devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury at the 2026 World Cup has jeopardized Manchester United's midfield rebuilding plans. To break the financial deadlock in their pursuit of AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone, the Red Devils are considering including Marcus Rashford in a swap deal.
The midfield problem after the personnel crisis.
Manchester United's midfield is undergoing a major shake-up during the summer transfer window. Following the departure of experienced midfielder Casemiro, the Red Devils' management quickly splashed out to bring in Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.
However, Ugarte's serious injury has forced the Premier League club to restart their search for a top-class defensive midfielder to prepare for the UEFA Champions League. Their number one target has been identified as Manu Kone, the 25-year-old star who just had a stellar season at AS Roma and impressed with his performance for France at the 2026 World Cup.
A deadlock arose when AS Roma insisted on a fee of €60 million for Kone. Manchester United's hierarchy was unwilling to meet this figure, especially after previously withdrawing from Atalanta's Ederson deal due to price disagreements. To avoid another high-profile transfer falling through, the Red Devils were forced to seek a breakthrough solution in negotiations.
Marcus Rashford and his key tactical role.
An unexpected solution has emerged: Marcus Rashford. According to Italian media sources, Man Utd are considering including the 28-year-old English striker as part of a deal to reduce Manu Kone's transfer fee.
From a professional standpoint, AS Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini desperately needs a quality left winger to upgrade his attacking options. With his speed and ability to create breakthroughs, Rashford is considered an ideal addition to the coach's tactical system.
Wage barriers and solutions for all parties involved.
Despite being a tactical fit, the likelihood of this swap deal materializing faces a major hurdle: Rashford's salary. The English striker currently earns around €11 million per season – a figure well beyond AS Roma's wage structure.
Furthermore, Rashford's future is also in limbo. After a season on loan at Barcelona, his chances of staying at Camp Nou have officially ended as the Catalan club has signed both Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi. No longer in the plans at Old Trafford but also out of the question of joining Barcelona, Rashford is in a difficult position.
The most viable option right now is a loan deal with a clause allowing Man Utd to continue paying the majority of Rashford's salary. Turning the striker into a swap deal is the best opportunity for the Red Devils to both offload surplus players and achieve their goal of signing Manu Kone.