Marcus Rashford sale hits new stumbling block with firm INEOS rule bypassed by Man United

Manchester United are now facing a new stumbling block if they decide to sell Marcus Rashford this summer, it has been reported.

Rashford has returned to Man United after Barcelona chose not to activate their option to buy him permanently after his loan spell at Camp Nou last term.

The 28-year-old scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions for Barca but that wasn't enough to earn a permanent deal.

Rashford has not yet featured for United in pre-season due to England's progression in the World Cup, with each player given a mandatory break of at least three weeks after their 6-4 third-place play-off win over France on July 18.

But he is set to be involved in the club's pre-season tour of Republic of Ireland, where he will make his long-awaited comeback.

United are now managed by head coach Michael Carrick, with Ruben Amorim in charge when Rashford was loaned out to Barcelona at the beginning of last summer.

Carrick has yet to speak publicly - beyond press releases announcing new signings - since the end of last season, so has not yet made clear whether Rashford will stay at Old Trafford this summer.

In the meantime, Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce have expressed interest and are reportedly willing to 'break the bank' to sign the England international.

READ MORE: European club ready to 'break the bank' for Marcus Rashford as contact made

But Fabrizio Romano says there is 'more than a 50 per cent' chance that Rashford remains in Manchester, and that he would only consider moving if he had an opportunity from 'a top European league'.

If United did decide to move Rashford on, they would be facing another significant issue that wasn't present last season.

Why Man Utd could struggle to sell Marcus Rashford

Rashford has been given a 25 per cent wage increase over the summer, according to The Telegraph, after United secured Champions League qualification.

United had altered that rule since the arrival of INEOS as minority co-owners so that it was strictly limited to players who played in at least 60 per cent of their matches in a season.

Rashford, of course, didn't make a first team appearance for United last term, spending the entire season at Barcelona.

But because his latest United contract, signed in 2023, was agreed before the rule change was brought in, he has still received the 25 per cent wage increase. The same goes for Andre Onana, who has been loaned out to Turkish side Trabzonspor for a second consecutive season.

According to BBC Sport, Rashford is the club's top earner on £325,000 per week, which could push United even further towards selling him.

But there is also an argument that the 28-year-old's undoubted quality - which he has shown consistently over the past 12 months - could be a valuable asset for Carrick's side both in the Premier League and Champions League.

Rashford has not addressed his future since the World Cup ended - having said during that tournament that he wasn't yet thinking about his next steps.

"As a person, I live in the moment," he said. "I was very clear with everyone involved before the World Cup, I wanted it done before, and if not, then I won't deal with it until after, because I want to fully be present in this moment.

"At the same time we're fighting for something. I don't have energy to be putting into other things."