Barcelona sporting director Deco has admitted the Catalan giants “like” Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford and Liverpool attacker Luis Diaz.
Rashford has spent the second half of the season on loan at Aston Villa after being frozen out by Man United head coach Ruben Amorim.
The 27-year-old contributed four goals and six assists in 17 appearances for the Villans before a hamstring injury effectively curtailed his loan spell.
Rashford has missed the last four matches through injury and will be ineligible to face Man United on Sunday, even if he were able to prove his fitness.
Aston Villa have a £40m option to buy Rashford at the end of the season, but Man United could still sell to another club for the same amount.
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Deco admits Rashford, Diaz interest
While it remains to be seen whether Villa make an effort to complete a permanent transfer, the player is said to be pushing for a dream move to La Liga champions Barcelona ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Barcelona sporting director Deco has now admitted that the club are keen on Rashford, along with Liverpool’s Diaz.
Speaking to RAC1, Deco said: “Talking about players who have contracts with other clubs is complicated out of respect. We like Luis [Diaz], we like [Marcus] Rashford, and we like other players.
“When we go to the market, there are names that we know and that could improve the team.”
Diaz has enjoyed regular playing time under Arne Slot this season, netting 17 goals and providing eight assists in 49 competitive appearances.
The Colombia international played his part in Liverpool clinching their 20th top-flight title, but there is some uncertainty about whether he will still be at the club to help them defend their Premier League crown next season, as he prepares to enter the final two years of his contract.
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Do Barcelona need a new winger?
On the face of it, Barcelona are not in desperate need of a new winger following the impressive form of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha this season.
Yamal has netted 18 goals and provided 25 assists in 54 appearances from the right flank, while Raphinha has played off the left for the majority of his 56 matches, racking up 34 goals and 25 assists to help Barcelona complete a treble.
However, the Blaugrana will be aware that they have been fortunate that neither Yamal nor Raphinha have spent any considerable time in the treatment room because there is a lack of depth in wide areas.
As a result, they will likely recruit a winger to bolster Hansi Flick‘s side, especially as they will have aspirations of adding further quality to their squad to give them the best possible chance of challenging for the Champions League.
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