Barcelona be part of the race for Marcus Rashford after holding talks with the wantaway Man United star’s representatives over a transfer this month

Barcelona have held meetings with Marcus Rashford’s entourage as the Manchester United striker evaluates his next move.

The England international’s brothers were given permission by United to hold discussions with a number of interested parties earlier this week, including AC Milan, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund.

Premier League sides, including West Ham, have also posted interest.

The 27-year-old is available on loan with United open to negotiations. They believe a deal modelled in similar fashion to the one struck for Jadon Sancho‘s loan to Borussia Dortmund last year could prove beneficial. 

One that was performance-related with the suitor paying more based on success and appearances.

United value Rashford at around £60million and his wages are over £350,000 a week. They are realistic that clubs are unwilling to match that on Rashford’s current showing so negotiations will centre around who is willing to take on as much of the cost as possible.

Barcelona are reportedly going ‘all out’ to bring Marcus Rashford to the club in the January transfer window

Rashford is being chased by the cash-strapped LaLiga giants who could provide a tempting offer to the out-of-form England star

Rashford’s camp and representatives have spoken to Barcelona transfer chiefs along with other top clubs

Barcelona, who now have financial flexibility to spend in January, are understood to have always been Rashford’s preference but United believe, at this stage, that the interest shown by AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus is stronger.

Those clubs plan to hold further meetings with Rashford’s representatives over the coming days.

United remain in the hunt for a striker but Tottenham and Juventus are considered further advanced in the race for Paris St Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani.

United head coach Ruben Amorim dropped Rashford after criticising his performances and actions during training across his first weeks in charge at the struggling Premier League giant.

Rashford has subsequently missed a further four Premier League matchday squads and looks set to leave this month with a number of European clubs interested.

AC Milan had been exploring an option to bring Rashford to Italy on a temporary basis for the remainder of the season and now Barcelona are doing the same.

Rashford’s camp and representatives have spoken to Barcelona transfer chiefs with sporting director Deco trying to decide whether a deal is viable.

A loan move away from Old Trafford would hinge on what proportion of his wages United are prepared to pay, as well as the size of the fee if there is an obligation to buy.

Rashford’s brother and agent Dwaine Maynard held talks with officials from Juventus on Wednesday and also spoke with Borussia Dortmund executives.

A loan move away from Old Trafford would hinge on what proportion of Rashford’s wages United are prepared to pay

Ruben Amorim has not played Rashford since coming on as a substitute against Nottingham Forest on December 7

Maynard had on Tuesday has also been been in Italy to hold preliminary talks with Italian giants AC Milan while both West Ham and Tottenham have also expressed interest.

United’s preference however is believed to be a permanent departure for Rashford in a £40m deal.

Mail Sport previously revealed that Tottenham are among the clubs to hold an interest in Rashford with Spurs keen to bolster their attacking options and rescue their season despite being the second-top scorers in the Premier League.

Rashford admitted in a bombshell interview last month that he is ready for a ‘new challenge’ and talked about leaving Old Trafford as a ‘when’, not an ‘if’.

Ruben Amorim has not played Rashford since coming on as a substitute against Nottingham Forest on December 7, though he was restored to the bench for last week’s 2-0 loss at the hands of Newcastle.

When asked why he was dropped for the Manchester derby, Amorim said: ‘Selection. We try to evaluate everything: training, performance, game performance, engagement with the team-mates, pushing the team-mates up. 

‘Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players, so that is my selection.’

Rashford has already rejected three offers from Saudi Arabia worth up to £35million-a-year.