FC Barcelona is speeding up its sports planning for the 2025/26 season. Although the signing of Nico Williams is already well underway and is taking up much of the media spotlight, the sports management is not stopping there. Deco, with the support of Hansi Flick, is negotiating a second operation in parallel that could mean a qualitative leap in the team's attacking front.
The need to strengthen the attack with functional options and complementary profiles has been marked as a priority in the roadmap of the new project. Hansi Flick, who is facing his second year on the bench, has clearly conveyed the importance of having a deeper and more versatile squad to compete for everything. In that sense, Deco has taken charge of fulfilling his requests.
An addition gaining momentum at Barça
According to sources close to the club, Deco is working on the possibility of bringing in Marcus Rashford on loan. The English forward has been offered in recent weeks and his arrival could fit both sportingly and financially as long as FC Barcelona manages to finalize some departures from the current squad. Rashford is looking for a change of scenery after a difficult season at Manchester United and sees a destination like Camp Nou in a positive light, where he could regain his best form.
The operation, still in the exploratory phase, has Hansi Flick's approval, who considers it key to increase attacking alternatives. Rashford would offer the coach a different profile from Nico or Lamine Yamal: more power, inside movement, and the ability to break lines with speed. The idea, then, is to first finalize Nico's arrival and activate the Englishman's loan in a second phase of the market.
Flick wants alternatives in attack
The combination of Nico Williams and Marcus Rashford would allow Barça to set up an attacking trio with multiple options. Nico, a specialist in one-on-one situations on the left, would provide width, while Rashford could play both on the wing and in more central positions, even as a second striker. This balance would allow Flick to adjust his scheme according to the opponent and the circumstances of each match.
Beyond the names, Barça is looking to build an attacking line with a collective sense: depth, pressure after losing the ball, vertical runs, and the ability to link up. In this context, both additions fit fully into the style the new coaching staff is looking to implement. Rashford's loan, moreover, would not compromise the club's finances and would offer a high-level reinforcement without major short-term risks.