Rashford pay demands loom large as Manchester United and Roma weigh Kone negotiations and loan option

Marcus Rashford’s future has surfaced in talks between Manchester United and Roma over a move for France midfielder Manu Kone, but the England forward’s salary is viewed as a major stumbling block, according to reports in Italy.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that United are among the leading contenders to sign Kone after his eye-catching performances for France at the 2026 World Cup. Roma, however, are said to be holding out for a fee of €60m, a valuation the Old Trafford club are currently reluctant to meet.

United officials are understood to be in ongoing contact with Roma in an effort to drive down the asking price. One idea raised in those discussions, according to the Italian newspaper, has been to include Rashford as part of the negotiations.

Rashford wages pose major problem

Any such arrangement is described as complicated by the report because of Rashford’s current pay package at Manchester United. The 26-year-old is said to earn a net annual salary of about €10m, with potential bonuses of up to €2.5m on top.

Those terms would comfortably make Rashford the highest-paid player in Serie A, by a substantial margin, if he were to move to the Stadio Olimpico. That financial gulf is seen as a significant barrier to Roma pursuing a permanent transfer at this stage.

As a result, the report states that Roma’s preference would be to explore an initial loan for Rashford rather than an outright purchase. Such a deal would likely require Manchester United to continue paying a large proportion of his wages during the loan spell.

From United’s perspective, assuming a major share of Rashford’s salary while he is playing elsewhere is described as an unlikely scenario for now, casting further doubt on the feasibility of including the forward in any arrangement for Kone.

Roma weighing sale to meet financial rules

On the Roma side, the club are considering cashing in on Kone this summer to generate funds and help them stay within Financial Fair Play regulations, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The willingness to sell the French midfielder is seen as a way for Roma to balance their accounts, with a sizeable transfer fee from a club such as Manchester United easing pressure under UEFA’s financial rules.

United’s interest, fuelled by Kone’s World Cup displays, therefore aligns with Roma’s readiness to listen to offers. However, the Italian club’s insistence on a €60m price and United’s attempts to negotiate that figure down mean the talks remain at a delicate stage.

The introduction of Rashford’s name into the discussions has added a new dimension but, as things stand, the complexities around his wages and Roma’s preference for a loan leave the prospect of a swap-type arrangement looking remote.

For now, Roma’s priority remains securing an acceptable fee for Kone, while Manchester United continue to explore ways to complete a deal without committing to the full asking price or a costly wage-sharing agreement involving Rashford.