MY ACCOUNT
Marcus Rashford could be heading for the exit door at Manchester United when his contract expires next summer.
The 25-year-old was at the heart of an impressive England side who were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the World Cup last Saturday, making several telling contributions in Qatar.
Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag has re-energised the talented forward since taking charge, yet questions still remain over Rashford’s future and his desire to commit to his boyhood club.
We turn the spotlight on the popular striker and his potential options in 2023.
Trusting Ten Hag
There is every chance that Rashford will place his continued faith in United, with Ten Hag keen on building a title-winning team at Old Trafford.
The Dutch coach’s summer additions were certainly an improvement on the mediocre side that Ralf Rangnick led to sixth in the Premier League last season.
Rashford has also been a regular starter under Ten Hag, featuring in all 14 top-flight games for United so far this term.
The academy product has returned six goal contributions and looks much more like the player who burst on to the scene as an unknown teenager in 2016.
Part of this return to form is undoubtedly down to the coach, his methods and his signings — Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez in particular have added serious quality to the starting XI.
Should Ten Hag continue to recruit talent on this scale, Rashford may well buy into the long-term project and become a leading man in a new era for the Old Trafford outfit.
Crucially, club chiefs hold the upper hand in any negotiation as they have the option to extend Rashford’s contract for a further year, as part of the terms first agreed in 2019.
Overseas opportunities
French giants Paris Saint-Germain have made no effort to hide their interest in the Manchester-born speedster, however.
Reports have emerged in recent days linking Rashford to Paris in a deal that would see him earn a whopping £850,000 a week.
This would compensate for the lack of required transfer fee on PSG’s behalf, but whether it would be a wise decision from a playing career perspective is debatable.
It would give him the opportunity to play with some of Europe’s best, including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
At the same time, though, Rashford would be walking into a new culture with raised expectations and fearsome competition for places.
However, for someone who is arguably not at the peak of his powers yet, a move could pay dividends for both his development and confidence.
England future
Although Rashford only started once for his country at the World Cup in Qatar, he demonstrated his final-third quality by finishing as England’s joint-top scorer.
With Euro 2024 only 18 months away, the set-piece specialist must prioritise a club that he is likely to be a star player for, rather than a bench warmer.
Therefore, a hop across the channel may not be the smartest of ideas. Especially if Gareth Southgate remains in charge as he is known to favour those playing in the Premier League, with the exception of Jude Bellingham.
In Manchester, Rashford is almost guaranteed a spot at the next major tournament should Southgate stick around, given the tremendous loyalty he has shown to his players.
Any switch could jeopardise his position in what is proving to be a capable England squad — but he could also reap the rewards of a fresh start.
Putting the work in
Remarkably, 51-cap international Rashford went almost 18 months without a call-up before being selected for the global showpiece in Qatar.
Ten Hag can take some credit for his recall and has even gone so far as to compare England’s No11 to the mercurial Mbappe.
Ten Hag, 52, said: “There is Mbappe in this moment, a type like him, but when Marcus is getting in that position, he’s great and you see he’s really improved also out of possession.
“Actually, Marcus was one, from the start, who came with a smile to Carrington and left with a smile day by day. And, from the first moment, it really was a joy to work with him. I recognise his talent and his finishing talent is great.
“He has to make a decision, the only thing we can do is show him this is the best club to be in, which has to do with the culture of the club and also in the way we are working, in the way we play and the way we train and if we are offering the right environment to progress.”
Rashford can take confidence from his performances at the World Cup, but he now has a huge decision to make that will surely shape the remainder of his club career.
