Barcelona want a new left-sided forward this summer, but it’s still a mystery who they’ll actually go after. Back when 2026 kicked off, everyone was pretty sure Marcus Rashford would stick around on a permanent deal. Now, though, the club’s not so sure, and things feel a lot less clear.

They've got the option to buy Rashford for €30 million, thanks to the terms of his loan. But lately, rumours suggest Barcelona might chase a younger, cheaper player instead. Spanish outlet Sport says the club plans to meet soon with Rashford’s agent and brother, so we’ll see if that clears anything up. They’re also still considering names like Andreas Schjelderup, Ez Abde, and Jan Virgili as possible alternatives.

And now, in a new twist, Barcelona has apparently been offered the chance to sign Rafael Leao from AC Milan. According to Corriere della Sella (via the Barcelona press), there’s interest because Leao’s situation at Milan has changed; he’s no longer in favour, and the Italian club wants to move him before his contract runs out in 2028. His asking price has dropped, too. Instead of the €100 million that shut Barcelona out in the past, Milan might let him go for as little as €50 million. That’s way more tempting.

Barcelona’s watched Leao for a while. A couple of summers ago, while they were trying to land Nico Williams, Leao’s name kept coming up. He’s represented by Jorge Mendes, who always seems to be involved in Barça business, and President Joan Laporta is a pretty big fan. Still, things got held up. Deco, the club’s director of football, wasn’t wild about Leao’s work off the ball, and the transfer fee felt crazy high.

Leao’s numbers this season aren’t bad. He’s scored 10 goals and picked up two assists in 25 games, though he’s only started 20 of them. So, with his price finally within reach, maybe Barcelona will finally make a move. That is, if they don’t decide to stick with Rashford or gamble on someone younger.

Marcus Rashford’s permanent move from Manchester United to Barcelona seems to have hit the brakes as the Catalan club reassess their plans for next season. They initially viewed Rashford’s experience as a key addition to support the young players they’re nurturing, but retaining Robert Lewandowski in that veteran role is now looking more likely.

Lewandowski was expected to leave, yet Barcelona have opened the door for him to stay, offering a new contract, though on less favourable terms. The financial impact of signing Rashford might complicate Barca’s other transfer ambitions, as the board weighs their options carefully.

Despite Hansi Flick’s wish to keep Rashford at Camp Nou, Barcelona appear to be holding off on the deal, partly due to challenges around his wage demands, according to reports in Sport. Rashford is reportedly willing to take a significant pay cut, nearly halving his salary through a longer-term contract, but even so, it could stretch the club’s wage budget.

A £26 million fee has reportedly been agreed for Rashford’s transfer, yet the total cost of his package has raised some eyebrows. There’s concern that making Rashford’s stay permanent might limit Barca’s ability to sign a defender and forward unless they offload other players.

Barcelona are reportedly exploring alternatives with profiles similar to Rashford, including Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup, Osasuna’s Victor Munoz, and Mallorca's Jan Virgili. With Lewandowski likely to stick around, these options might gain more traction.

Their pursuit of defender Alessandro Bastoni and a ‘world-class’ centre-forward could also shape the outcome, but things remain uncertain. How Rashford finishes this season might still influence what comes next.

So far, Rashford has scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona. He’s made it clear he’d prefer to stay.

“Of course, what I want is to stay at Barca,” he told Sport earlier. “It’s the end goal, but it’s not the reason why I’m training hard and giving it my best. The purpose is to win. Barca is a huge, fantastic club, built to win titles.”

Lewandowski, who turns 38 this summer, has been offered a contract with half his current fixed salary. As a Bundesliga legend, he still wants clarity regarding his role, and several clubs have shown interest in signing him on a free transfer.

Meanwhile, Rashford remains under contract at Manchester United until 2028 and faces an awkward return if Barcelona doesn't finalise the deal. His £325,000-a-week wages don’t fit well within United’s current structure, which favours incentive-driven contracts with lower basic pay. That could create some tension behind the scenes.