Securing a Champions League spot is the clear target for Manchester United as the Premier League season reaches its climax. However, achieving that success could create a surprising transfer dilemma for the club this summer.

While a top-five finish would mark a significant and accelerated return to Europe's elite, it comes with a contractual catch for two high-profile loanees. Qualification would trigger automatic contract extensions for both goalkeeper Andre Onana and forward Marcus Rashford, making potential permanent sales this summer far more complicated.

Onana, the £47.2m signing from Inter Milan, is currently on loan at Turkish side Trabzonspor. His United deal is set to run until 2028, but a Champions League berth would see that extended further. Despite a rocky start at Old Trafford, his pedigree from a Champions League final run with Inter means his market value remains substantial, but a longer contract could deter potential buyers.

The situation with Marcus Rashford is equally complex. The England international, on loan at Barcelona after a fallout with former manager Ruben Amorim, also has an extension clause tied to Champions League qualification. His recent cameo in Barca's Champions League quarter-final highlights he can still perform on the biggest stage, but a renewed long-term contract at United could complicate any negotiation for a permanent move away.

For United's management, the summer transfer window now presents a tricky balancing act. The joy of securing Champions League football would be tempered by the need to navigate the futures of these two assets. Do they reintegrate players who have been away, or attempt to negotiate sales with players on freshly extended terms? It's a classic case of a sporting success bringing immediate off-pitch challenges, proving that in football, trouble often finds you even when you're winning.