World Cup
Manchester United blocks City, Liverpool from Rashford's £40m clause
Manchester United have added a clause to Marcus Rashford's contract that prevents Manchester City and Liverpool from activating his £40 million release clause. The clause leaves every other European club able to trigger the fee this summer after Rashford's season‑long loan at Barcelona.
Rashford spent the 2025‑26 season on loan at Barcelona under Hansi Flick. Barcelona opted to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle instead of exercising a permanent deal for Rashford.
Tottenham joins Arsenal and City in £100m race for Sandro Tonali
David Ornstein of The Athletic reported that the exclusion applies only to City and Liverpool, while the clause remains valid continent‑wide. Enzo Maresca is reshaping Manchester City’s attack, with Erling Haaland confirmed as the undisputed number nine. Jeremy Doku is expected to receive a new contract after a breakthrough season that earned him a place in Belgium’s FIFA World Cup squad. Rayan Cherki is tipped as the long‑term successor to Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden is also set for fresh terms despite a mixed campaign. Antoine Semenyo, signed in January, is considered a sure‑fire starter, while Savinho is poised for a permanent move to Tottenham after City blocked a previous attempt. Jack Grealish appears likely to leave the Etihad, and Omar Marmoush’s future is described as the most uncertain among the group, with Pep Guardiola overseeing the squad. Hugo Viana’s recruitment priorities remain focused on midfield reinforcements such as Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali, alongside defensive targets Vitor Reis and a long‑term successor to John Stones. United’s decision to bar City and Liverpool underscores its concern over strengthening its two biggest rivals rather than signalling an imminent sale.