Manchester United have no intention of bringing Marcus Rashford back into the first team next season, despite the forward sending signals in recent days that some have read as opening a door back to Old Trafford.

Rashford is currently on loan at Barcelona, where he has revived his career after falling out with United's former manager Ruben Amorim. This season in La Liga he has seven goals and nine assists in 29 appearances - numbers for a player the English media had written off a year ago.

Barcelona have a buyout clause of 26 million pounds (around 30 million euros) at the end of the season. The Catalans want to negotiate either a lower price or a new loan. United are not budging - they want a full sale and they're not lowering the demand.

Another headache for both sides: United's qualification for the Champions League automatically pushes Rashford's wages up. That will be hard for Barcelona to absorb - the Catalans' financial troubles are no secret, and they need reinforcements in several positions.

Interestingly, Rashford recently posted his first United-related social-media activity in nearly a year - congratulating the club on its return to the European elite. Small, but enough to keep the British tabloid mill turning.

Arsenal are also in the picture, looking for a new left winger as the futures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard remain uncertain. Hansi Flick at Barcelona wants to keep him - but whether the club can actually buy him is another question entirely.

Everyone is playing poker. Rashford wants to stay in Spain, Barca don't have the money, United want full price, and Arsenal are waiting for a slip. A summer of long talks and few decisions.