Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly leading the charge to bring Marcus Rashford to north London this summer.
According to The i paper, De Zerbi is a huge admirer of the winger and will push the club’s hierarchy to agree a deal for the Manchester United man.
Rashford could be available for a fee of around £40m, representing a potentially cut-price option for a Spurs side looking to rebuild after finishing 17th in the Premier League last season.
Barcelona were widely expected to sign Rashford on a permanent basis this summer, but they rejected the opportunity to sign him for £26m, choosing instead to sign Anthony Gordon for a significantly larger fee.
The 28-year-old has rediscovered his best form in Spain, contributing 14 goals and 11 assists for Barcelona as they won LaLiga, before also starring at the World Cup for England.
Rashford scored off the bench in England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia at the tournament, and Cristiano Ronaldo has previously described him as “one of the best wingers in the world.”
Spurs are also targeting Cody Gakpo of Liverpool and Savinho of Manchester City as they look to strengthen their attacking options significantly this transfer window.
However, a statistical comparison of the 2025/26 league season shows Rashford outperforming Gakpo across virtually every key metric per 90 minutes.
Rashford posted 0.41 non-penalty goals per 90 compared to Gakpo’s 0.23, while also recording 7.46 progressive actions per game against the Liverpool forward’s 5.18.
The former United star also edged Gakpo in successful dribbles, progressive carries, progressive passes, shots per 90, and defensive ground duels won, making for a comprehensive statistical victory.
De Zerbi has already shown a preference for Premier League experience this summer, having already brought in Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Andy Robertson since taking charge at the club.
Rashford fits that profile perfectly, boasting 426 top-flight appearances in England and a record that includes scoring 30 goals in a single season for Manchester United.
His career had stalled under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, before a loan spell at Aston Villa in the second half of 2024/25 helped him regain confidence and form ahead of his Barcelona move.
With Sandro Tonali valued upwards of £100m and the Gakpo pursuit looking complicated given his importance to Liverpool, Rashford represents a more attainable and arguably equally impactful option for Spurs.