Transfer Centre

Barcelona 'to use Philippe Coutinho in Marcus Rashford deal'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 27 March 2019

Barcelona 'to use Coutinho in Rashford deal'

Barcelona are reportedly hopeful of using either Philippe Coutinho or Malcom as bargaining chips in their attempts to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United.

Barcelona are reportedly hopeful of using Manchester United's interest in Philippe Coutinho to aid their attempts to sign Marcus Rashford this summer.

The Spanish giants are understood to have identified Rashford as one of three possible candidates to serve as a long-term replacement for Luis Suarez.

United are determined not to sell their homegrown talent and are currently in talks with Rashford over an extension to his contract, but Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona are hopeful of hijacking that offer.

Barca are reportedly willing to use Coutinho or Malcom as bargaining chips in talks over Rashford, with United having been linked with both Brazilians in recent months.

The Red Devils are thought to be particularly keen on signing former Liverpool playmaker Coutinho and have already made contact with the player's agent to register their interest.

However, United are unlikely to be willing to lose Rashford in exchange for Coutinho despite their long-standing desire to bring the 26-year-old to Old Trafford.

Barcelona have also been linked with Luka Jovic and Antoine Griezmann in their search for a successor to Suarez.