Neither Marcus Rashford nor Raphinha, Barça will sign a top winger. In 2021 he cost €85M.

Hansi Flick's main request for this season was to strengthen the left wing. The German coach believed that the squad needed more imbalance and depth on the flank to keep the level of performance shown last season. His request seemed like an impossible mission due to the club's financial situation, but Deco managed to find a rather attractive emergency solution.

With hardly any resources and under market pressure, the Barça sporting director secured the loan of Marcus Rashford. The Englishman arrived from Manchester United to compete directly with Raphinha, and his first weeks in the Catalan city were very promising. He scored goals, provided assists, and brought energy, showing that he can be a useful piece in the rotation.

However, that good initial momentum has faded as the matches have gone by. In recent weeks, with Raphinha's injury, Marcus Rashford has had to take on the offensive spotlight and his performance has dropped drastically. Far from being a solution, he has become a problem: disconnected, imprecise, and with little impact on the game.

Marcus Rashford, KO, Barça monitor a better winger

That's why Deco is already seriously considering what to do with Marcus Rashford at the end of the current season. FC Barcelona has a purchase option set at 30 million euros, but as of today it seems unlikely that it'll be activated. Paying that amount for a footballer who hasn't performed at the desired level would simply be a strategic mistake.

Everything suggests that Marcus Rashford is moving away from Barça, so Deco will have to look for other alternatives. Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho has become Barça's main target to strengthen the left wing next summer. His contract with Manchester United ends and he could arrive at Camp Nou for free, which makes the operation a real market opportunity.

It's true that Jadon Sancho has been an inconsistent player in recent years. He's currently on loan at Aston Villa, but his future seems far from the Premier League. At 25 years old, the Englishman still has that electric dribbling, the vision to combine, and the ability to decide matches on his own.

Jadon Sancho, a golden opportunity

Deco and Hansi Flick agree that Barça's context could reignite his career. Surrounded by the best, Jadon Sancho could recover the level he showed at Borussia Dortmund, where he was a true star. In 2021, Manchester United paid 85 million euros ($91.8 million) for his signing, a figure that reflects the potential he still has.

If Deco manages to bring in Jadon Sancho at zero cost, it would be a brilliant move both sportingly and financially. Marcus Rashford would be left without a place in the squad and Raphinha would have new competition. If nothing goes wrong, next summer could mark a turning point in FC Barcelona's attack.