Joe Cole urges Xabi Alonso to sign Marcus Rashford as Chelsea target Barcelona’s unwanted forward

Marcus Rashford is set to return to Manchester United following the conclusion of his season-long loan at Barcelona, and former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole believes his old club should move quickly to secure the England international’s signature.

Rashford spent the entirety of the 2025/26 campaign at the Camp Nou, contributing 14 goals as Hansi Flick’s side claimed the La Liga title. Despite that form, Barcelona have confirmed they will not pursue a permanent deal for the forward, citing the financial demands associated with any potential transfer.

With the 28-year-old’s market valuation reported to be around £30 million, Cole told The Sun that Chelsea — now under the management of Xabi Alonso — should explore the possibility of bringing Rashford to Stamford Bridge.

“It’s just a matter of the wages and the valuation,” Cole said. “Rashford ticks a lot of boxes, but you don’t want to spend a fortune on him, he’d do a good job for Chelsea. He needs to keep going.”

Cole also emphasised the importance of maintaining the momentum Rashford built during his time in Spain. “Marcus needs to keep his confidence up because he rebuilt himself at Barcelona, and there’s still another level for him to jump to,” he added. “He’s someone Chelsea should inquire about, but it’ll depend on the deal.”

The suggestion comes at a time when Chelsea’s wide attacking options have drawn scrutiny. Both Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens have struggled to establish themselves as consistent performers, and the arrival of a proven Premier League forward with European experience could address that shortfall.

Rashford’s season at Barcelona represented a significant personal resurgence following a difficult spell at Manchester United, where he had fallen out of favour under previous management. His loan move to Spain at the start of the 2025/26 season was widely seen as an opportunity to revive a career that had stalled in Manchester, and his contribution to a title-winning campaign reinforced his credentials as a top-level attacker.

Alonso, who took charge at Chelsea ahead of the summer transfer window, now faces key decisions over the club’s attacking recruitment. Whether the former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder opts to pursue Rashford will likely hinge on wage negotiations and United’s valuation of a player who, despite his recent form, remains contracted to Old Trafford.

With the transfer window open and Rashford’s future unresolved, Chelsea will need to act with urgency if they are to fend off interest from other potential suitors.