Marcus Rashford's future at Manchester United appears to rely on one club as the forward attempts to secure a last-gasp loan switch to Barcelona.

However, with transfer deadline day looming, the move is contingent on whether the Catalan Club can offload two players to make financial room on their already tight books.

According to reports the club is prepared 'in principle' to cover most or all of Rashford’s staggering £375,000-a-week salary, although Barcelona will need to generate some funds to fit the move within La Liga's squad cost limit.

However, as reported today by Manchester Evening News' Chief Manchester United writer Samuel Luckhurst, the Catalans are understood to be hesitant to sanction the loan move, preferring a permanent transfer in the summer instead.

Rashford's anticipated exit has been a talking point throughout January after he lost his place in Ruben Amorim's line-up. His last match for United was a Europa League victory at Viktoria Plzen on December 12.

His intentions of making a move to Spain have become even more clear with The Guardian reporting Rashford snubbed a big move to Tottenham Hotspur - but throughout the window, the 27-year-old has also been linked with European giants AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, and AS Monaco.

READ MORE: Barcelona considering two options to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United

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His astronomical wages are thought to have priced out many clubs making a January deal even harder. Both Rashford and Amorim have accepted he may be staying in Manchester for the rest of the season although it is thought that a move away is the most desired outcome.

Although if the striker stays in Manchester Amorim highlighted how Rashford could help the squad. The Red Devils boss said: "You can look at our team and imagine the profile of the players.

“Now imagine a talent like Rashford. Our team should be so much better with Rashford. But he has to change. If he changes, we are more than welcome to put in a talent like Rashford. And we need it."

If the deal does go through Man United is reportedly prepared to move quickly to try and snap in-demand French forward Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich - although would face competition from both Spurs and Aston Villa.