Man Utd can now sell Marcus Rashford to Barcelona thanks to little-known rule that opens door for transfer

Marcus Rashford has received a boost which could help facilitate his preferred transfer in the January transfer window.

Rashford has not played for United since December 12 against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League, having been left out of all but one of Ruben Amorim's matchday squads since then.

He was again left out for the 3-1 defeat to Brighton on Sunday, with Amorim explaining his absence in his post-match press conference.

"Rashford is out of this moment because he is not playing. No matter what, I am not going to put a player I don’t believe is the best for the team," Amorim told the media.

"It is his choice. I don’t want to focus this bad moment because in this games we lost, Rashford is not here. I don't want to put this moment on Rashford."

Although he is still fit and training with his teammates, the 27-year-old has been heavily linked with a number of clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and AS Monaco.

However, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Rashford is believed to favour a move to Barcelona if given permission to move on from his boyhood club.

The Blaugrana have had a plethora of financial problems in recent years but as per the report, the sale of their VIP seating at the revamped Nou Camp means they do have the necessary funds available.

Marcus Rashford has not played for Manchester United since December 12. Image: Getty

The move, which saw 475 VIP seats purchased, ensures Barca adhere to La Liga's 1:1 rule.

Explaining the sale, Barca president Joan Laporta said: "There is an investor from Qatar who subscribed €30 million (£25.3m, $30.9m) and paid it out and we credited it to La Liga, and the other, from the Emirates (the Gulf country, not Arsenal’s home stadium), for €70m; 40 per cent had to be paid in, and it didn’t arrive until the 31st, the banks had closed and we didn’t credit it until the third (of January).

"We fulfilled all the requirements before the 31st. The regulation does not say that it has to be credited, it is a requirement of La Liga and we supplemented what we could, but the accreditation of part of it was later.”

A deal is not a foregone conclusion, however, as Barca would ideally like to offload players before bringing anyone in.

Rashford's £325,000-a-week wage could also be tricky to navigate and potentially need United to cover a portion of the salary.

With the situation a complicated one, Rashford could still stay at United beyond the transfer deadline of February 3.