Barcelona's new plan for Marcus Rashford! Hansi Flick sees Man Utd loanee as No.9 option as registration scramble continues

Having accepted that they did not have the funds required to complete permanent transfers for Luis Diaz or Nico Williams, La Liga's champions found themselves exploring more budget friendly targets.

Rashford quickly registered on their radar, with the England international having spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa after tumbling down the pecking order at Old Trafford.

Barca viewed him as a wide attacker that can operate on either flank, allowing Brazilian Ballon d’Or contender Raphinha to take a rest when required. According to AS, Rashford is now viewed as a central striking alternative for Flick.

Robert Lewandowski, at 36 years of age, is incapable of playing 60 games a season across all competitions. Ferran Torres is another option to lead the line, but Rashford is - after training and matches during a tour of Asia - now in that conversation.

Rashford has operated as a striker in the past, having once suggested that is his favoured role, but end product has dried up for him of late - scoring just 19 goals across the last two seasons. There is a purchase option in the loan deal that took the 27-year-old to Catalunya, with Barca hoping that more registration drama can be avoided ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.