Man Utd Could Use Rashford in £51m Manu Koné Deal
Manchester United could reportedly use Marcus Rashford in negotiations for Roma midfielder Manu Koné, who is valued at £51 million.
Rashford Could Become Part of Manchester United’s Koné Plan
Manchester United could potentially use Marcus Rashford as part of a deal to sign Roma midfielder Manu Koné.
According to a report by Scott Trotter, citing claims from Gazzetta dello Sport, United could explore including Rashford in negotiations as they attempt to reduce Roma’s £51 million valuation of the French midfielder.
United are reportedly unconvinced by Roma’s current asking price.
Roma, meanwhile, are prepared to let the 25-year-old leave this summer if their valuation is met.
Roma Want £51 Million for Manu Koné
Koné, who represented France at the World Cup, is valued at £51 million by Roma.
Neither Manchester United nor Al Ahli have so far been willing to complete a deal at that price.
Roma are reportedly open to a sale as they work to comply with Financial Fair Play requirements while creating space for their own transfer activity.
The Italian club have received a number of enquiries for the midfielder, but no deal has yet progressed significantly.
Rashford Could Reduce the Cash Component
Roma’s need for a left-sided attacker has created the possibility of Rashford entering the negotiations.
According to the report, United could use the England international to reduce the cash amount required for Koné.
There is, however, a significant financial obstacle.
Rashford is reported to earn £325,000 per week, making him Manchester United’s highest-paid player.
Roma would struggle to accommodate that salary.
As a result, a loan arrangement could be required, with Manchester United continuing to cover a significant proportion of Rashford’s wages.
United Had Preferred a Permanent Exit
Manchester United had previously been reluctant to approve another loan for Rashford.
The forward spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Barcelona.
Barcelona held a £26 million option to buy him permanently but decided not to activate it, instead signing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United.
Rashford is therefore currently expected to return to Manchester United.
Rashford’s Future Remains Open
No club has yet met Manchester United’s valuation of Rashford, according to the report.
It has also been suggested that the England forward rejected the possibility of moving to Türkiye.
Rashford still has two years remaining on his Manchester United contract.
A previous clause that would have allowed him to move to any club other than Liverpool or Manchester City for £40 million has now expired.
For the moment, a return to Old Trafford remains possible.
Manchester United coach Michael Carrick had also indicated at the end of last season that he was willing to work with any players who remained in his squad.
StatsLook Analysis: Rashford’s Barcelona Season
The most interesting aspect of Rashford’s situation is that his Barcelona spell produced strong attacking numbers.
According to StatsLook, Rashford made 43 appearances across all competitions in 2025/26 and played 2,338 minutes.
He recorded:
13 goals
11 assists
9.90 xG
13 big chances
A 7.06 average rating
while starting 53% of his matches.
His overall performance placed him inside the top 6% of players in his position.
Scoring 13 goals from 9.90 xG also shows that Rashford finished the season above his expected-goal output.
One of La Liga’s Most Productive Left Wingers
Among La Liga left wingers with at least 450 minutes played, Rashford ranked:
1st for goals — 0.50 per 90
2nd for assists — 0.42
1st for total shots — 4.08
1st for shots on target — 1.54
4th for xG — 0.38
2nd for key passes — 2.31
6th for big chances — 0.50
4th for crosses — 5.66
These numbers describe much more than a winger relying purely on pace.
Rashford combined high shot volume with strong chance creation and direct goal contribution throughout his Barcelona season.
Strong Involvement in Possession
Rashford also averaged 63.09 touches per 90, ranking fifth among La Liga left wingers.
His 32.45 accurate passes ranked fourth, while his 83.3% passing accuracy ranked third.
That is significant because his attacking profile was not limited to transition situations.
He was regularly involved in possession, contributed to passing sequences and combined that involvement with high-value attacking actions.
Defensive Contribution Remains Limited
The weaker side of Rashford’s Barcelona profile comes without the ball.
Per 90 minutes, he recorded:
3.50 duels won
2.39 ball recoveries
0.46 tackles
0.12 interceptions
These figures placed him towards the lower end of his positional group in several defensive categories.
His value therefore remains primarily offensive.
A team signing Rashford would be getting a player designed to create and finish attacks rather than a winger whose main value comes from defensive work.
Limited World Cup Minutes
Rashford also appeared six times for England at the 2026 World Cup but played only 223 minutes.
During that limited sample, he registered:
One goal
One assist
1.03 xG
Three big chances
The supplied StatsLook positional rankings for World Cup left wingers use a 405+ minute threshold.
Because Rashford played only 223 minutes, those rankings are not used in this assessment.
His World Cup contribution should instead be viewed only through his raw output and limited playing time.
What Could Rashford Offer Roma?
StatsLook’s 2025/26 data suggests Rashford remained a high-level attacking player during his Barcelona loan.
His profile offers:
High shot volume
Direct goal threat
Strong assist production
Key-pass creation
Threat from the left
Regular involvement in possession
Strong passing accuracy
His defensive numbers are considerably less impressive.
If Roma are genuinely looking for a left-sided attacker, Rashford’s footballing profile could provide significant attacking quality.
The bigger issue appears to be the economics of the operation rather than his recent production.
Conclusion: Could Rashford Unlock the Koné Deal?
Manchester United want Manu Koné, but Roma’s £51 million valuation currently represents a major obstacle.
One possible solution is to include Marcus Rashford in the negotiations.
Roma’s need for a left-sided attacker gives the idea some sporting logic, but Rashford’s £325,000-a-week salary could make the structure difficult.
The StatsLook data, however, suggests his Barcelona loan was far from unsuccessful on the pitch.
Rashford ranked first among La Liga left wingers for goals and total shots, second for assists and key passes, and finished inside the top 6% of his position overall.
If a Rashford–Koné structure is explored, the decisive issue may therefore be less about Rashford’s sporting level and more about whether Manchester United and Roma can build a financially workable agreement.
The transfer information in this article is based on the report by Scott Trotter and the Gazzetta dello Sport claim referenced within it. The “StatsLook Analysis” section uses exclusively the Barcelona 2025/26 and 2026 World Cup data supplied by the user.
