Rashford Involved in Roma–United Transfer Talks
Marcus Rashford has been dragged into Roma’s transfer conversations with Manchester United, yet the prospect of him actually turning up in the capital already looks remote.
The England forward’s name surfaced during discussions over Manu Kone, with United among the clubs circling the Roma and France midfielder after his standout displays at the 2026 World Cup. Kone’s performances on the international stage have sharpened interest across Europe, and Roma know exactly what that means: a potential windfall.
Roma’s Balancing Act
Roma are walking the familiar tightrope of ambition and Financial Fair Play. To stay on the right side of the rules, they are prepared to sacrifice a major asset this summer, and Kone sits at the top of that list.
Reports in La Gazzetta dello Sport suggest the Giallorossi believe they can command around €60m for the midfielder. That figure would ease their FFP concerns and give them room to reshape the squad.
But it’s also the number that is slowing Manchester United down.
United Not Sold on €60m Price Tag
United like Kone. They’ve tracked his rise and noted his impact with France at the World Cup. That doesn’t mean they’re ready to pay Roma’s full asking price.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, there is no unanimity within United’s hierarchy about committing €60m to the deal. The admiration is there; the conviction at that valuation is not. As a result, United are expected to keep pushing Roma to soften their stance and lower the fee.
That is where Rashford’s name has entered the frame.
Rashford as a Makeweight? The Numbers Say No
In an attempt to find common ground, United could explore including Rashford as part of the negotiations for Kone, as reported in Italy. On paper, it is the kind of blockbuster idea that lights up a transfer window: a high-profile England international heading to Serie A, a World Cup midfielder moving to Old Trafford, both clubs reshaping their squads in one swoop.
Reality bites quickly.
The first and biggest obstacle is Rashford’s salary. His net wages are reported to be around €10m per season, with a further €2.5m in bonuses. Those numbers would instantly make him the highest-paid player in Serie A by a clear margin. For a Roma side already wrestling with FFP, that level of commitment is close to impossible.
The structure of any potential move only complicates things further. Roma are not looking at a permanent transfer for Rashford at this stage. Their interest, as outlined in La Gazzetta dello Sport, would be in a loan deal, and even then only if United continue to shoulder a significant chunk of his wages.
That would mean United paying heavily for a player they no longer fully control, just to grease the wheels of a separate transfer. For a club trying to reset its own wage bill and rebuild under stricter financial scrutiny, that scenario feels highly unlikely.
A Talking Point, Not a Transfer
So Rashford’s inclusion in the Kone talks looks more like a negotiation tool than the basis of a realistic agreement. Roma need to sell. United want to buy, but not at any price. Somewhere between those positions lies a compromise, and sometimes big names are floated to test the water.
For now, though, the idea of Marcus Rashford in a Roma shirt belongs more to the imagination than the market. The real battle is over Kone’s fee — and whether United blink before Roma cash in.
