Marcus Rashford will be available for £40m this summer, but the Manchester United forward’s release clause does not apply to Manchester City and Liverpool.
United are considering a move for Crysencio Summerville as part of a potential £120m double raid on West Ham United for the Netherlands winger and Portugal Under-21 midfielder Mateus Fernandes.
United are also keen admirers of Arsenal target Morgan Rogers even if their strong interest in the Aston Villa and England forward is severely complicated by his valuation of up to £100m at a time when most of the club’s summer budget has been earmarked for revamping the midfield.
But the prospects of moving for a winger such as Summerville or a versatile forward such as Rogers, who can play out wide and centrally, are intertwined with Rashford’s future at Old Trafford.
It is thought United will only entertain offers to sign Rashford permanently this summer after loaning him to Barcelona last season.
But United will need to get the England forward – whose wages have jumped back up to about £325,000 a week following the club’s return to the Champions League – off the books if they are to strengthen in the wide forward position during this window.
Rashford’s preference to remain overseas
Barcelona have opted against triggering a €30m (£26m) option to sign Rashford that was negotiated when he joined on loan last summer.
That option expired on Monday and United are now seeking a permanent buyer for Rashford, having shown no interest in renegotiating the terms of that loan option with Barcelona. The €30m option would have been payable in three €10m instalments.
Several Premier League clubs are thought to be monitoring Rashford’s situation, but the player’s preference is to remain overseas. City and Liverpool would be very unlikely homes for Rashford anyway, but United would not countenance a sale to either.
A return to Barcelona has not been entirely discounted and other foreign clubs are believed to be keeping tabs on him.
A strong World Cup showing with England could strengthen his prospects of a good move this summer and improve United’s hand.
Rashford has two years remaining on his contract with United and, as things stand, the 28-year-old is due to return to the club next month. It is thought he would rather see out his contract than join another English team.
Summerville, 24, scored in the Netherlands’s 2-2 draw against Japan on Sunday and figures high on United’s list of winger targets.
West Ham are expected to listen to offers for some players this summer following their relegation from the Premier League and Summerville would probably cost in the region of £50m.
Rogers, 23, would be considered a dream target but his likely price tag of up to £100m is considered prohibitive in the circumstances, which plays into the hands of his many other suitors, notably Arsenal.
United’s priority at this stage is a deal for Summerville’s West Ham team-mate Fernandes and talks are continuing through Jorge Mendes, the Portuguese’s agent. West Ham want £80m for the 21-year-old midfielder.
United have already agreed a £35m deal for Brazil and Atalanta midfielder Éderson but are likely to be in the market for three midfielders if Manuel Ugarte is sold.