Although Vitor Pereira would love to be in the mix to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, the Wolves manager may have to settle for influencing the saga instead.
Rashford’s future at Old Trafford is probably the most discussed topic of the January transfer window.
The 27-year-old has been frozen out by Ruben Amorim and no longer looks to have a future at his boyhood club.
But why does this concern Wolves, I hear you ask — well, according to multiple reports, Wolves’ decision not to allow Carlos Forbs to return Ajax is set to trigger a domino effect that could lead to Rashford moving to Barcelona.
Carlos Forbs unlikely cog in Marcus Rashford wheel
Even though Forbs has barely featured under Pereira, it doesn’t look like the forward will be leaving Molineux before next week’s Deadline Day.
Ajax want to bring him back from loan, but Wolves, not bound by a recall option in the player’s agreement, have refused the proposal.
Fearing there isn’t enough time in the mid-season window to replace the 20-year-old, Pereira won’t allow Forbs to return to his parent club; a decision, that, according to AD, has forced Ajax to look for alternatives.
Ajax turn attention to Ansu Fati
Where the saga gets really interesting is that after giving up on Forbs, Ajax, according to Telegraaf, are now targeting Barcelona’s Ansu Fati.
The 22-year-old isn’t in Hansi Flick’s plans so is allowed to leave the Nou Camp.
Should the former Brighton loanee make the switch to Amsterdam, Barcelona would then have room in their squad to pursue Rashford — something Flick, according to Sport, would like to do before the window closes.
Leaving United and joining the Catalan giants is Rashford’s preference, so Wolves’ decision to deny Forbs a return to the Eredivisie could prove to be pivotal in what would undoubtedly be one of the window’s biggest transfers.